can drinking too much water hurt you?

Question

i've heard that drinking a lot of water is very good for your health. but can drinking too much water be hazardous?

Answer 1

yes it is called water toxicity

Answer 2

Yes, there is a condition known as "water intoxication." It is usually associated with long distance events like running and cycling. And it’s not an unusual problem. For example, water intoxication was reported in 18% of marathon runners and in 29% of the finishers in a Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon in studies published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine and in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise respectively.

The official name for this condition is hyponatremia. The symptoms generally mirror those of dehydration (apathy, confusion, nausea, and fatigue), although some individuals show no symptoms at all. If untreated, hyponatremia can lead to coma and even death.


End Note: Water intoxication is a problem not only among athletes. For instance, it has become one of the most common causes of serious heat illness in the Grand Canyon. Some people hiking the canyon drink large amounts of water and do not eat enough food to provide for electrolyte (salt, potassium) replacement and energy. Fears of dehydration has led to a mistaken belief that the safe thing to do is to drink as much and as often as possible. But even with drinking water, there can be too much of a good thing.

Answer 3

I have heard that it can cause brain problems if you drink too much water, but I would think you would have to drink a ton of it real fast to do anything. This would be a good question for the next time you go to your doctor.

Answer 4

perhaps you have been eating too lots. How do you recognize that it grow to be your kidneys that harm? you've been very dehydrated once you began eating 8 glasses an afternoon and in case you have been nevertheless working to the bathroom you had no longer been eating 8 glasses for terribly long simply by fact the typical urination stops after 2 to 3 weeks. perhaps your elctrolyte stages are low. suited element may well be to go and notice your GP. eating a healthful quantity of water can not harm your kidneys.

Answer 5

The average amount of water required per day is about one liter for ordinary people .. and affected by physical activities and climates .

if u drink more water it is a symptom called ( polydypsia )
and it indicates several disease examples as Diabetes and hyperthyrodism ..

but u are instructed to drink more water in other diseases as stones in ureter ..

but ur question is about a normal people to drink 2 much water .
in that case .. if the personal is not insain ... increasing the amount of water u drink per day is of benifits .. but don't drink to much once because it will cause reflex urination after 20 minutes ..

but if u r insain and drinked 2 much water .. it might case some problems as hyponatremia .. or odema but not likely u reach that point if u r drinking more that usual but still have a sound mind to know how much is enough .

Answer 6

Yes it can be harmful if you drink too much. The recommended amount of water is 2-3 litres per day (8-12 glasses of water). This is healthy for your body and helps to clear toxins from your kidneys and liver.

If you drink TOO MUCH (say over15-16 glasses for an example) the water you drink then drowns the tissues and tissue cells in your body. Literally - if you drink too much you drown your body.

Answer 7

actually there is such a thing as water intoxication which can cause death
too much water dissolves the natural salts found in the body that regulate organs like the heart and kidneys
hyponatremia effects the kidneys
hypokalemia effects the heart
disolving these salts effects the balance of blood serum in the body

Answer 8

if u drink gallons and gallons at a time. then yes it is hazardous. u actually drown from the inside out. all the water dillutes all the salt in your blood and u can die from it. but tha's if u drink like 20 galls. in like an hour. i mena if u drink like a gallon a day then yeah it's good for u. although u'll have to pee a lot lol

Answer 9

Too much of anything can be a problem.
If you drink too much, you can actually start to retain water, lose minerals, and drown from water retention.
Drink as much as you want, but if you start to get puffy, cut back.

Answer 10

too much can yes. it can cause liver failure. But, you would have to drink a rediculous amount before that would be a concern. you'd have to keep drinking through some serious stomache aches before you'd do any damage.

Answer 11

you'd have to be on drugs to drink too much water. Or you would find yourself in a pool of water.