62 like 2 dislike
in General Factchecking by
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.
ago by (140 points)
0 0
Completely agree. Staying hydrated is obviously important, but there are definitely negative effects.
ago by Newbie (470 points)
0 0
I agree with this claim. I was very interested in this fact check so I did some research online. I found out that drinking too much water can lead to a condition called hyponatremia where the balance of electrolytes in the body are disrupted by a decrease in sodium. Hyponatremia can lead to headaches, nausea and even death. I think you did a good job explaining your source and answering the claim as well.
ago by Newbie (330 points)
0 0
It is accurate to say that excessive water consumption occurs, yet each person's water intake is different. The provided article was brief yet understandable, and it contained solid evidence to back up its claims. I do believe that additional study and information regarding the negative effects of excessive water consumption, particularly for individuals in areas where it is prevalent, may have been conducted.
ago by Newbie (280 points)
0 0
Good fact-check! You’re right that drinking too much water can be harmful, but the article doesn’t really prove it’s as bad as or worse than dehydration. Severe dehydration can be deadly, while water toxicity is rare and usually happens from drinking extreme amounts too fast.

Also, healthy kidneys can handle a lot of water unless someone has a medical condition. It would help to find a source that explains how much is actually “too much.” Your point is good, but it might sound scarier than it really is. A little more detail or another source could make it even better!
ago by Newbie (280 points)
0 0
Good fact-check! You’re right that drinking too much water can be harmful, but the article doesn’t really prove it’s as bad as or worse than dehydration. Severe dehydration can be deadly, while water toxicity is rare and usually happens from drinking extreme amounts too fast. According to the Mayo Clinic, water toxicity (or hyponatremia) typically occurs when a person drinks a large amount of water in a short period, which is uncommon for most people (Mayo Clinic). Also, healthy kidneys can handle a lot of water unless someone has a medical condition. It would help to find a source that explains how much is actually “too much.” Your point is good, but it might sound scarier than it really is. A little more detail or another source could make it even better!

95 Answers

0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)
This claim, that a human can drink too much water, is true. Before this claim is addressed though, we have to identify what "too much" water is. My conclusion, and what I am basing this response on, is that drinking "too much" water is drinking enough to kill you. According to University Hospitals, an Ohio based hospital conglomerate, drinking too much water can lead to death. This article stated a specific instance in 2007 when a radio show contestant died of hyponatremia (water intoxication). After reading this I did external research where I confirmed that Jennifer Strange did pass away after drinking almost two gallons of water during the duration of the radio show contest. There are many other examples of people dying of hyponatremia and because of that, I confirm that this claim is true.
True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

This is true, and many sources can point to different outcomes of drinking too much water. Water toxicity can occur when you are so overhydrated to the point of your cells swelling to an unnatural level. This pressure can cause many things such as confusion, pain, and nausea. This can also put you at risk of electrolyte imbalance, as if your blood sodium levels fall below 135 mEq/L, you are at risk of hyponatremia. There is even evidence that people have died due to water related poisoning. This typically happens during physically demanding events.

Source- What Happens When You Drink Too Much Water?

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

After doing some research I found out that you can drink too much water. This sentence from a found article says "Drinking too much water is rarely a problem for healthy, well-nourished adults. Athletes occasionally may drink too much water in an attempt to prevent dehydration during long or intense exercise. When you drink too much water, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water. The sodium content of your blood becomes diluted. This is called hyponatremia and it can be life-threatening." Furthermore showing that it is possible to drink to much water 

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (310 points)

Supringly I have found the claim "you can drink too much water" to be true.  Drinking too much water can lead to a condition called water intoxication. When you consume excessive amounts of water, it can dilute the sodium in your bloodstream, causing an imbalance that affects your body's normal functions. The article explains that some symptoms of water intoxication include headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. However, it is my own opinion that nobody is drinking too much water since the amount of water is would take to achieve water intoxication is extreme and not relevant to everyday drinking.

The Cleveland Clinic supports the idea of drinking too much water as a true medical issue. The article lists all the same symptoms as the first one so it can be said that this claim is true.

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

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

This claim is true. While it is rare, drinking too much water can cause harmful side effects. Drinking too much water can cause your kidneys to become overwhelmed, which dilutes the sodium content in your blood. When this happens, water moves into your cells which causes swelling, along with many other symptoms. There is not a specific amount of water you should or shouldn't drink, and should instead base how much water you should drink based off of health conditions and physical activity.

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

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

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

Yes, drinking too much water can harm your physical health. Drinking too much water and being dehydrated are two completely different things. But it is true, it is just as bad for you. I have found multiple sources online that support the claim that drinking too much water can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and other issues. The Cleveland Clinic states that "Water intoxication is a condition in which there's too much water in your body, and it affects your body's cells". This article supports each claim that the author made in this post.

The article that the author uses for their post is from University Hospitals. I believe that their evidence is reliable because it is a renowned academic medical center that has been in business for 155 years. They have received numerous awards for their medical studies as well.

Sources:

Water Intoxication: Toxicity, Symptoms & Treatment

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

This persons claim that you can drink too much water is completely true, drinking too much water does dilute the sodium content in your body, leading to a condition known as Hyponatremia. However, the idea that too much of anything is harmful isn't exactly a new concept and I believe people face the problem of dehydration much more than over hydration. Additionally paying attention to your body signals can definitely support your chances of avoiding this problem entirely.

Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyl

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (350 points)

I find this claim to be true. As much as we would like to think that water is good for you and believe that drinking lots of water is better, it can also be worse for your health. According to this article, your kidney can only remove 0.8 to 1.0 liters of water per hour, and as said a very high intake of water can disturb the "body's electrolyte balance". They also state you cannot drink too much water on accident but it can be purposely caused by intense sports training if you allow yourself to do this. Sometimes, symptoms are vague, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and disorientation. Water poisoning is another way to look at this, water intoxication is a disruption. Doing this increases the amount of water in the blood, which leads to dilute electrolytes, "especially sodium, in the blood". I would agree with your take on this claim, you stated the information is great and knowledgeable with the correct amount of information.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318619#water-intoxication

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (310 points)

This claim is true, you can drink too much water and it does cause health issues. According to Mayo Clinic, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water when you drink too much of it, which may cause hyponatremia. First, there is overhydration, where you may feel some fatigue, but then there's water toxicity when you drink too much in a short period of time (WebMD). Water toxicity caused brain cells to swell and leads to drowsiness and headaches. According to WebMD, people may drink too much water either from health conditions that cause them to retain water or from extreme endurance exercises. In extreme cases of drinking too much water, the swelling of brain cells can lead to seizures or death (Calfas 2). 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256#:~:text=When%20you%20drink%20too%20much,it%20can%20be%20life%2Dthreatening.

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

https://news.med.virginia.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/8/files/2024/08/Drinking-Too-Much-Water-Can-Actually-Be-Dangerous-WSJ.pdf?r=1

True
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (300 points)

This is true, you can drink too much water. Having too much water in your body is called water intoxication. According to the Cleveland Clinic, "Drinking too much water dilutes your blood and decreases the electrolytes in your body, especially sodium (hyponatremia). As a result, water moves into your body’s cells and causes them to swell." When this happens you can experience nausea, and vomiting. And if it's severe enough you can experience a coma, seizure or die. Another expert from Stamford Health says the same thing. That water intoxication occurs when the electrolytes in your body are depleted and your sodium is extremely low. In the article it states "The body must maintain an appropriate balance between sodium and potassium to keep the heart, cells, and nervous system working properly. Water intoxication disrupts this balance." And although water intoxication is rare, it's important to keep in mind the balance your body needs of water and electrolytes. 

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

https://www.stamfordhealth.org/healthflash-blog/nutrition/how-much-water-to-drink/

True

Community Rules


• Be respectful
• Always list your sources and include links so readers can check them for themselves.
• Use primary sources when you can, and only go to credible secondary sources if necessary.
• Try to rely on more than one source, especially for big claims.
• Point out if sources you quote have interests that could affect how accurate their evidence is.
• Watch for bias in sources and let readers know if you find anything that might influence their perspective.
• Show all the important evidence, whether it supports or goes against the claim.
...