This article was co-authored by Nimisha Gandhi and by How.com.vn staff writer, Eric McClure. Nimisha Gandhi is a Certified Nutritionist based in San Francisco, California. With over 15 years of research and clinical experience, she specializes in functional and ayurvedic reproductive and gut health. She is a certified Ayurvedic counselor from the Ayurvedic Institute of America and received her certification in nutrition from the Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts while also getting certified as a Yoga Nidra teacher from the California College of Ayurveda. She is also a certified Well Woman Yoga Practitioner and Conscious Parenting Coach. She earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California at Los Angeles.
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Believe it or not, it’s possible to drink too much water. In fact, overhydration can lead to hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when the sodium levels in your blood become too low. If this happens because you’re exercising hard and drinking a ton of water or you’re trying some new kind of water-heavy diet or cleanse, it’s no big deal and you can easily treat it at home. However, if your excessive thirst is acute and caused by an underlying condition though, you may need emergency medical care. In this article, we’ll cover everything you’d ever need to know about drinking too much water.
Things You Should Know
- Minor symptoms of hyponatremia that don’t require emergency medical care include minor hand swelling, nausea, and headaches.
- If you vomit, experience weakness, have a seizure, or become confused as a result of drinking too much water, seek emergency medical care.
- You can treat minor overhydration at home by not drinking water, eating a meal, and taking it easy.
- Your doctor will treat acute or serious overhydration via IV sodium replacement and by treating any underlying conditions.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
- For the vast majority of people, dehydration is a much bigger issue than the potential of overhydration. If you’re healthy, your body will know when it has had enough water and you shouldn’t worry about drinking a few glasses of water.[15]Thanks
Expert Interview
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References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-much-water-do-you-need-daily/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/diuretics/art-20048129
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2006/08/10/5630821/athletes-run-risk-of-over-hydrating
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2006/08/10/5630821/athletes-run-risk-of-over-hydrating
- ↑ https://www.gundersenhealth.org/health-wellness/eat/are-you-over-hydrated
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711
- ↑ https://www.dovepress.com/severe-water-intoxication-and-secondary-depressive-syndrome-in-relatio-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDT
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373715
- ↑ https://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/13/4/641
- ↑ https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/jan/4-hydration-mistakes-with-marathon-training/
- ↑ https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/drinking-much-water-killed-14-5976264
- ↑ https://www.gundersenhealth.org/health-wellness/eat/are-you-over-hydrated
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