You can drink too much water

Question

Drinking water can cause overhydration which can affect your brain, muscles, and heart.

Comments

Yes, you can drink too much water. Consuming excessive amounts in a short period can dilute the sodium in your blood, leading to water intoxication or hyponatremia. This condition causes your cells to swell, potentially leading to symptoms like nausea, confusion, seizures, and even fatal outcomes in severe cases. It's rare for healthy individuals but is a risk for athletes, those with certain medical conditions, or individuals overhydrating rapidly. It's best to drink when thirsty and avoid forcing water beyond quenching thirst. For details, refer to the [Cleveland Clinic article](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication).

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The claim “You can drink too much water” is true. When doing further research, I learned the negative effects of consuming too much of this beverage. For example, this can result in a dangerous condition, hyponatremia. This is where levels in the blood become diluted, which can ultimatlrylead to life-threatening situations (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022). Other external sources also state other negative effects of through over consumption. These include, including headaches, nausea, swelling of some body parts, confusion, etc. Many of sources on the other hand can provide strong amounts of information for healthy consumption of water. The previosuly introduced MayoClinic Article states that 15.5 cups of fluids per day, while women should be trying  for around 11.5 cups per day (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022). It is importnat to research different parts/sides to information, in this case, the healthy and unhealthy situations of water consumption.
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.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

Answer 1

You can, in fact, drink too much water. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the average adult living in a temperate climate needs around 15.5 cups of fluids a day for men and 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women. 

When too much water is consumed, the electrolyte balance in your body is disturbed, leading to hyponatremia (a lack of sodium in the bloodstream) and possibly death. An excess of water consumed is referred to as “water intoxication”. Symptoms of water intoxication can include nausea, vomiting,  headache, fatigue, confusion, muscle cramping, weakness, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Sources:

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

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

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

Answer 2

Yes, although water is essential in our daily diet, drinking too much can lead to various health problems and concerns.

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

Answer 3

Yes it is possible to drink too much water. Drinking water is crucial to human health. Still, it is true that excessive hydration can lead to symptom such as nausea, disorientation, vomiting, seizures, headaches, confusion, muscle cramps, and in some severe cases, death. These are symptoms of hyponatremia, which is when sodium in the body is too low causing an imbalance. One of the ways hyponatremia is caused is through over hydration. Drinking excessive amounts of water does not directly affect your brain or your heart though you may feel cramps in your muscles as a symptom to hyponatremina.

In conclusion, yes, you can drink too much water causing hyponatremina. Though it will not directly affect your brain and heart, you can still get muscle cramps as a symptom to the condition.

The WebMD article that you linked was originally written by Tammy Worth, a self proclaimed freelance health journalist. Though her credentials are lacking, we are able to confirm your claim of drinking excess water is potentially dangerous.

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Sources: https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/hyponatremia-low-sodium-level-blood (Primary)

https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2015/08/too-much-water-its-possible-and-problem (Secondary)