Are You Drinking Too Much Water?

There is such a thing like drinking too much water and it is very harmful. There are people who blindly gulp several glasses of water a day just because they think they are doing the body a favor. This is not the case at all. Water can be harmful if taken in large quantities when the body has no need for it.

The truth is that the body maintains a balance between the electrolyte content and the water content in the body. Electrolyte content is the quantity of salts such as sodium present in the body.

When you drink too much water, there will be an imbalance in the body since the volume of water becomes higher than the electrolytes leading to a phenomenon called "water intoxication". It can even be fatal as it can cause a heart attack or stroke.

How much water should you drink?

To avoid the possibility of water intoxication, make sure that you drink water only when you are thirsty. Drink just enough to quench your thirst.

If you are playing sports or involved in physical activity, you should consider drinking a saline solution rather than plain water, to compensate for the electrolytes lost through perspiration.

Are there any abnormal conditions which cause us to drink more water?

If you are sitting outside in a humid and warm weather it is likely that you will sweat a lot. If you keep drinking copious amounts water you will so start feeling a bit sluggish because of lowered electrolytes in your body.

Always compensate for the salts lost through your body by consuming food or a saline solution. Sport drinks are becoming popular for this very reason. They compensate the body for electrolyte lost along with water.

If you are continuously drinking water through habit, it can be harmful for the kidneys. The signs of drinking too much water become evident when you have to visit the washroom every few minutes.