What Happens if You Drink Too Much Water: Side Effects
We all have been constantly told by our elderlies to drink enough water to keep ourselves hydrated – but excessive of anything in our life would be poisonous or dangerous for us. Similarly, overconsumption of water is also very harmful to your body.
Recent research and studies by NHS recommends that our kidneys can hold around 800-1,000 ml of water in one hour and excessive of having such liquid will cause sodium levels to dramatically plunge and with nowhere for the excess water to go, it’s stored inside the body’s cells which finally leads to swelling into various body parts consequently death.
Side Effects of Drinking Excess Water
Do you know what happens if you drink too much water? In scientific terms, the process is known as water intoxication with symptoms that can include drowsiness and headaches as you start consuming excessive water.
Moreover, if your kidney cannot process it can lead to brain damage, falling you into a coma, and in very extreme cases even cause death. As most of your cells can handle the swelling to a degree since soft, flexible tissue like fat and muscle can stretch.
Symptoms of Drinking Too Much Water
As per the research at international medical centres, a healthy amount of water consumption should lead to “straw-coloured or lighter” urine. If you are drinking too much water your urine will be also clear and transparent like water.
If you are going to pee very often it is a sign of drinking too much water. But make sure the lack of water level in your body will bring down the hydration level in your body resulting rise of other complications, like in summer you can have heat stroke.
For humans, one of the biggest groups in danger of water intoxication are athletes, specifically marathon runners who drink lots of water in a very short span of time. And sometimes they drink cold water that is more harmful to them.
Also Read: Why is Cold Water Bad for You: 5 Side Effects of Cold Water
Athletes, have to consume lots of water in a shorter time to combat heat generated inside their bodies, and at the same physical act of running also causes stress to the body as it tries to process the fluid.
How Much Water is Too Much?
An average adult’s body needs around 3-4 litres of water in an entire day but kidneys can process only a litre of water every hour. But if you keep putting more liquid it will be stored inside the body’s cells, causing them to swell gradually.
To know how much water should you drink a day you have to consider a few things in mind like the temperature of the environment, whether are you doing a workout or the hydration level of your body.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Drinking Warm Water Daily Even in Summers
Usually, in hotter climates, the body needs more water and we also get some fluid from the food we eat. So, keep moderately drinking water and keep your kidney health for a longer time.
