You can drink too much water

Question

It has been found that drinking "too much" water can actually be just as bad for you or arguably even worse than being dehydrated. Drinking too much water can cause Headaches, Nausea and vommiting, Muscle cramps, and brain fog.Drinking too much water unbalances the kidney and overwhelms to natural process the kidney functions. The sodium content in the human body also needs to be regulated and drinking too much water messes up the amount of sodium within the human body.

Comments

I believe that excessive water intake is bad, but maybe include any studies that show why. It also varies depending on people’s water intake and how much they are able to drink.

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Yes this claim is true. Water in excess amounts can be deadly according to plenty government websites. There have also been people who have died from drinking too much water, this term is called water poising, according to many reputable news sources.

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Your fact-check is correct although this article does not prove or backup the statement that too much water can be worse than dehydration. I do not think there have been enough studies done to be able to prove this. Maybe you could’ve provided a link to an article that backups that claim.

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I agree with this fact-check, I feel like if you intake too much of anything, it could be bad for you. When too much water is consumed, the kidneys struggle to excrete the excess, causing an imbalance in sodium levels. In severe cases, extreme water intake can cause swelling in the brain, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, while hydration is crucial, excessive water consumption can be just as harmful as dehydration.

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I agree with this fact-check because I believe that consuming too much of anything may be harmful to your health.  The kidneys have a hard time eliminating too much water, which leads to an imbalance in salt levels.  Extreme water consumption in extreme situations might result in potentially fatal brain edema.  Drinking too much water can thus be just as dangerous as dehydration, even if being hydrated is essential.

Answer 1

Although drinking water and staying hydrated is one of the most crucial things a living organism could do, overhydrating isn’t necessarily a good thing, but it takes a lot. Although the claim is vague, it is ultimately true. According to Dr. Scott in 2022, overhydration with water could cause hypothermia symptoms such as nausea and fatigue which could lead to confusion and possible seizures. He uses a very intriguing example in which a runner during a marathon downs water at every station he sees. Because of this, they lose salt through sweat, and by taking in too much water, “they dilute what sodium is left in their bodies” (Scott 5). Personally, I drink a lot of water, but I don’t drink too much to the point where athletic capabilities are limited or difficult. An individual would need a ridiculous amount of water for these symptoms to occur. Something I have been taught to do is drink half of my body weight in ounces. So, for example, if an individual is 200 pounds, they should drink 100 ounces of water daily. This claim is true when accurate evidence and examples are used.


https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/excessive-hydration.html#:~:text=%22In%20fact%2C%20there's%20a%20significant,of%20sodium%20in%20the%20bloodstream.

Answer 2

The claim “You can drink too much water” is true. It is a reliable source since the article from which this was pulled from, University Hospital the science of health, is a health system based in northeast Ohio that does patient care and research. 

In the UH article it states “Drinking excessive amounts of water can overwhelm your kidneys and dilute the sodium content of your blood.” Hence drinking too much water, over hydration, leads to it being bad for your health. 

In another article by the WebMD explains how you don’t know when you are over hydrating. When you do it your brain cells are the ones that are impacted. It happens through swelling and low sodium levels.

You can see that there are negative effects of drinking too much water.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

Answer 3

The claim "You can drink too much water" is true. According to a page on mayoclinic.org,  drinking too much water can cause your kidneys to fail, allowing the sodium content of your blood to become higher than normal. This can be deadly.

Answer 4

The claim “You can drink too much water” is true. It is a reliable source since the article from which this was pulled from, University Hospital The Science of Health, is a health system based in northeast Ohio that does patient care and research. 

In the UH article it states “Drinking excessive amounts of water can overwhelm your kidneys and dilute the sodium content of your blood.” Hence drinking too much water, over hydration, leads to it being bad for your health. 

In another article by the WebMD explains how you don’t know when you are over-hydrating. When you do it your brain cells are the ones that are impacted. It happens through swelling and low sodium levels.

You can see that there are negative effects of drinking too much water.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2024/01/can-you-drink-too-much-water

Answer 5

Yes the claim that you can drink too much water is true. Multiple sources, like the Cleveland Clinic, Healthline, and the Mayo Clinic all have articles and research done about overhydration and its legitimacy. Overhydration or Water Intoxication is a real thing and drinking too much water leads to your kidneys to have too much to filter, and they can't get rid of the excess water. 

"Water intoxication is a condition in which there’s too much water in your body, and it affects your body’s cells. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting and bloating. Severe symptoms may include confusion, seizure and coma. It can also be fatal. Treatment may include reducing your water intake. In severe cases, you may need replacement sodium." (Cleveland Clinic)

"You can become overhydrated in two ways: By drinking too much water or if your kidneys retain too much water. In both cases, overhydration can lead to water toxicity, also known as water poisoning. Your body’s water volume becomes too large for your kidneys to excrete, which can cause the electrolytes in your body to dilute." (Healthline)

"When you drink too much water, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water. The sodium content of your blood becomes diluted." (Mayo Clinic)

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication

https://www.healthline.com/health/overhydration#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256

Answer 6

The claim that drinking too much water can be harmful is valid. After reviewing the article from University Hospitals and additional reliable sources, I found that excessive water intake can indeed overwhelm the kidneys and dilute sodium levels in the body. This imbalance can lead to a condition known as water intoxication. As explained in the article, this disrupts electrolyte balance, which can result in symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and confusion. Additionally, a study published by the National Kidney Foundation confirms that overhydration, especially  in individuals who drink more than 3 liters of water per hour, can cause the  kidneys to struggle  in  excreting the excess, which leads to dangerously  low sodium levels. This condition is more commonly observed in athletes who drink excessive amounts of water during endurance events but can also affect individuals who consume too much water during periods of stress or illness. In conclusion, the claim is accurate, although it's not a widespread issue for most people. It's important to  be aware of the risks of overhydration, particularly in situations where water intake is extreme or rapid. 

https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/6-tips-to-be-water-wise-healthy-kidneys

Answer 7

This is true. Anything can become a poison in the correct dosage. Drinking too much water flushes out the electrolytes and nutrients in your body that you need to properly function. Although it is a high level to reach, you can drink too much water.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication

Answer 8

"Can You Drink Too Much Water?" In the article provided, it says that drinking too much water can overwhelm your kidneys and dilute the sodium content of your blood. You should be drinking 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can get water intoxication. Water intoxication is a condition where too much water is in your body, and it affects your body's cells. Symptoms can be nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Severe symptoms can be confusion, seizure, and a coma. Drinking too much water dilutes your. blood and it decreases the electrolytes in your body. I'm not saying that drinking water isn't good for you but there is a certain amount you can drink. If you feel thirsty drink water, especially after exercising or during warm weather. (Water Intoxication, 2024) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication 

Answer 9

For the most part, drinking too much water can indeed be unhealthy. The more realistic part of the statement would be that the amount of water it would take to be harmful is gallons in a short period. This amount would not be easy to consume and would be very uncomfortable before it becomes unhealthy. Likely, if one were to drink an unhealthy amount, it would be on purpose.

Answer 10

Yes, you can drink too much water, which could lead to water intoxication. "When you drink too much water, it can cause hyponatremia, which happens when your blood sodium concentration becomes very low. Drinking more water than your kidneys can flush out dilute the sodium in your bloodstream, causing cells to swell."

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-much-water-can-kill-you#causes