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

I agree with the claim that it is possible to drink too much water. As the article highlights, excessive water intake can overwhelm the kidneys and dilute the sodium levels in the blood, leading to a condition known as hyponatremia or water intoxication. This can cause serious symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, and even seizures in extreme cases. While staying hydrated is important, it’s crucial to drink according to thirst and avoid consuming water in excess of what the body can process, especially for athletes or those with certain medical conditions.

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

Answer 2

I agree completely with this claim and the article you used to prove it is a very reliable source being a .org being a very respected hospital constantly ranked among some of the best in the nation. Too much water can cause water intoxication along with other bad consequences for your health and can make you dizzy, give you headaches, muscle weakness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and a bloated stomach. This all happens due to the water diluting your blood decreasing the electrolytes in your body, the worst of to the sodium levels, water moves into your cells and swells them leading to all the symptoms. It can even lead to seizures or cause death which happened to a radio host in your article.

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

Answer 3

This claim appears true. Overhydration, when your body retains too much water, is actually a dangerous. Drinking too much can cause water toxicity, or water poisoning, where there is too much water for your kidneys can't get rid of it properly. This can dilute your blood, and cause severely decrease your necessary electrolytes and sodium levels. This can eventually lead to your brain cells swelling, which can lead to even more extreme adverse health issues.

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

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

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

Answer 4

This claim is true. There are instances where too much water can be dangerous. From the University of Virginia, it's stated that drinking too much water in a short period can lead to disorientation, nausea, and vomiting. In very serious cases, it can even cause a seizure or death. One way to know if you've drank too much water is if you start to feel bloated. From the Mayo Clinic, the right amount of water someone should consume is 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups for women.

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#:~:text=Drinking%20water%20is%20crucial%20for,severe%20cases%2C%20seizures%20or%20death.

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

Answer 5

The idea is that it is possible to drink too much water.  Overhydration occurs when "Your body’s water volume becomes too large for your kidneys to excrete," which can lead to an excessive dilution of the body’s electrolytes, particularly sodium, according to  This is usually the case for athletes who drink too much water before or after an event. Consuming too much water upsets the kidneys' equilibrium and disrupts their regular functions. Furthermore, the human body must regulate its salt content, and consuming too much water throws this balance off.

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

Answer 6

This claim is true! Drinking too much water can be dangerous, as most things are in excess. In an article by Jennifer Calfas, a UU research informs us that, "When someone drinks too much water over a short period, it can lead to the dilution of sodium in the blood, known as hyponatremia or water intoxication." We then find out upon further reading that drinking too much water can lead to death! There are multiple other negatives effects that can happen as well. This claim is most definitely true.

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

Answer 7

I agree with this claim. I was interested in the topic, so I did research to fact-check, and I think you explained it well. I think you cited reliable sources and relevent information. I also think it's important to mention that while it is possible to drink too much water, to the point of the sodium content in your blood's dillution, it rarely actually happens. Overall, this was a great explanation!

Answer 8

I agree with this statement. To add to your source that you used to gather the reason of how drinking too much water can cause the sodium content to be irregular, there’s also evidence that says, “Excessive water consumption flushes out toxins!—surges” (Ferry 1). There are certain levels of things your body needs daily to help it run. When drinking too much water, it causes those levels to fluctuate and can remove nutrients you need as well through the process.

Another angle we could take is that the source of our water isn’t healthy. This factor often goes over our heads, but the reality is, that “nutrient pollution in groundwater—which millions of people in the United States use as their drinking water source—can be harmful, even at low levels” (United States Environmental Protection 1). So, now let’s say you drink more than the normal amount, which aligns with the normal amount of toxic pollution that will be in your system. This even explains how a lot of families drink from tap water and do not use filtration. In the long term, this could damage one’s health.

To go back to the sodium levels, “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” (Mayo Clinic Staff 2). To summarize everything, one of the biggest risk factors of drinking too much water is your sodium level. Water does not have sodium, but you can get it through IV fluids or electrolyte drinks. That being said, I agree with the statement that drinking too much water is counterintuitive to the intention of one’s purpose in doing so.

Sources: 

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.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/problem

https://www.menshealth.com/health/a60249105/how-much-water-to-drink-water-obsession/

Answer 9

The topic of hydration has always been debated, growing up we're told 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water (equaling 64 US fluid ounces) is ideal. The article linked in this question from University Hospitals discusses this subject, answering the question of: can you drink too much water? 

The website is a registered organization, as understood by it being a .org site, with the article being fairly recent (posted in January of 2024), which makes the contents of this article generally trustworthy. The article discusses the consequences of overhydration and what it is, and goes into answering the sub-questions of: how much water is enough, and how much water is too much? They answer these sub-questions by dismissing the myth of eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day, and explain that there is no set amount of healthy water intake - rather, that it is subjective to each person, their health and activity/exercise status, and their overall lifestyle.

Under further inspection, Gundersen Health and Cleveland Clinic both publish articles on this matter, discussing what water intoxication (also known as overhydration) is. Both articles do great at explaining the topic, how to avoid it, and the Cleveland Clinic article - which has been medically reviewed lastly as of September 2024 - recommends the daily intake for adults is 125 ounces (3.7 liters) for males and 91 ounces (2.7 liters) for females; yet both primarily suggest to trust your body by drinking when you are thirsty, and to keep an eye on your urines color.

The Mayo Clinic, in an article answering the question: how much water should you drink everyday, sources:

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, who have determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: 

• About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men
• About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20% of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks.

In summary, the statement "You can drink too much water", is true but fairly uncommon and rarely life threatening.

Answer 10

This claim is accurate. Drinking too much water is indeed possible. The article explains that excessive water intake can overwhelm the kidneys and dilute sodium levels in the blood, leader to water intoxication or hyponatremia. It does a great job of explaining the risks of over hydration and how it affects the body, detailing how the kidneys struggle to filter excess water and how this distrusts electrolyte balance. Overall, the article provides a clear, informative explanation of why drinking too much water can be harmful. The Mayo Clinic also supports this claim. It mentions the struggle for the kidneys, the sodium content, and emphasizes that too much water can be life threatening. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256 The key factor I take away and that proves the claim is true is “your body will alert you when it needs more water”. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake