Is it possible to drink TOO much water?

Question

I am 19 (male), I work out at the gym regularly and I consume so much water when I feel like I need it (which is a lot).

I would appreciate knowing how you know your answer and not just from what random people have said.



Thank you

Answer 1

Yes, absolutely you can drink too much water.

Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as hyponatremia, the symptoms of which include convulsions, coma, respiratory arrest and death.

However, if you don't have any psychiatric conditions, are on no meds, and don't have any medical problems, then you're probably ok with drinking whenever you are thirsty.

However, people have died from drinking too much water even when perfectly healthy. As little a 3-4 liters of water over a short period of time can cause a problem.

The other issue is that maybe your body is "too thirsty". If you are talking about 10+ liters of water a day and you're still thristy all the time, then it's time to tell tour doc.

So the bottom line is, if you're finishing a liter at the gym over a couple of hours of strenuous exercise with a lot of sweating, then you're probably ok. If you get nausea, headache, or generally feel bad for no reason, then you might be drinking too much water.

And if you're concerned enough to ask on yahoo, maybe you should bring this up with your doc, who knows you.

Answer 2

Absolutely you can. If you are working out you should have 8 glasses a day for sure. If you are taking any supplements, then you should add another glass or two. If you are sweating and burn calories drinking more water than someone who does not workout is necessary to maintain your overall system. You should not consume more than 96 oz though I would caution to say. If you are in the bathroom more than 9 times a day, you may be drinking too much.

Answer 3

It is possible to drink too much water, but in order to do that you would have to drink A LOT of water (like a couple dozen gallons or more). There was actually a radio station in the news, not too long ago, that tried to test that theory and had 3 people sit and drink water and whoever drank the most won tix or something, well a young female that was participating was complaining of feeling light headed but didn't want to to lose......she passed out and they pronounced her dead a short time later due to consumption of too much water.

Answer 4

Yes it is. It is call water intoxification. It is very hard to drink enough water to have it, but it is possible. Water intoxication (also known as hyperhydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by a very rapid intake of water.[1] Normal, healthy individuals have little to worry about accidentally overconsuming water. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume several gallons over the course of just a few minutes, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which time electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet massive amounts of fluid are still consumed.


There actulay was s story all over the news about a young woman (in her 20's I believe) that was involved in a radio contest to win a Wii. The contest was to see who could drink the most water. The radio station (somehow) did not know about the effects it would have and the young woman died from water intoxification.

Answer 5

from the web page ..

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes.

Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes

More at web page ...

Answer 6

it is possible to drink too much but I highly doubt your consuming that much.

There was a radio station a few months ago having a contest of who could drink the most. The lady drove home after words starting feeling ill and ended up dying. Very rare instance and you could probably find the story on the web.

Answer 7

Consider water not only as a liquid nothing, than a low electrolyt- solution, that helps your physical functions going on.

If you are healthy (no diabetic), you don´t need to drink sooo much - it can be a kind of bad habit, others like to smoke. Even if you train your muscles it is better to drink some water, to have a soft energy-drink (aquarius may be, but only one), and eat some vegetables to renew necessary water and minerals.

Too much water makes your kidneys tired, and oriental medicine consider their power directly connected to the length of your life, take care and get old !

Answer 8

It is possible to drink too much water. A kind of poisoning/intoxication occurs that wreaks havoc on one's electrolytes, and incredibly, can be lethal. Apparently one can't piss it all out.

It's unlikely you're drinking too much, particularly when working out in a gym. You drink water "when you feel like you need it." Therefore, you are in tune with your body's needs.

I'd rather nurse a bottle of water than a soda all day, that's for sure, but I would never drink so much that I could feel it in my stomach, if that makes sense.

I am aware of "H20 poisoning" most of my adult life, and am uncertain where I learned about it-it was likely during my "fabulous" college years.

Answer 9

Yes you can drink too much water. I saw on the news that a radio station had a water drinking contest and a woman died from drinking too much.

Answer 10

A couple of years ago on the news, during one of those college hazing, or games, a student had to drink alot of water to get into a fraternity, he drank too much, he later died.