Is it ok to drink 18 glasses of water a day?

Question

well im just asking and the glases are like half the size of a pint

wats water poisining

Answer 1

you know what? In the 1970's people used to say you need to drink 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water to clear your system, help with perspiration for a nice skin. What I got (and others I've seen) were saddle bags inside the legs because the body didn't know what to do with that excess water...so that's proof the body can't hold that much water. And, your blood pressure will rise (I've found that out on my own) if you have too much water in you because your heart will have to work harder to pump so much water. If you eat salt then water will accumulate in your body and make you weigh a lot more and will give your gut the jello bounce.

Now to answer your question. I believe 1 glass of water, and maybe more in the summer or in humid living conditions is adequate. You can test by pulling up your skin. If it bounces back then you have enough water in you. If it goes back to normal slowly then you're going dry and need more water. So eventually you will figure out how much you (as an individual) need. But 18 glasses of water a day is much too much.

Answer 2

You should drink about 2L a day - more if you perspire alot (eg you work outside in the blazing heat doing a manual labouring job). If 1/2 a pint (8 fl oz) is 224mL, then you are drinking over 4L which is twice the recommended amount for normal people

If you drink too much water you can overload the kidneys and cause kidney problems (happens occasionally). More likely, you could cause an electolyte imbalance in your blood as the kidneys will be leeching out minerals and salts while you pee (or sweat) out all that water. This electolyte imbalance can lead to 'water poisoning' eg hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia etc which can in turn lead to things such as nausea, confusion, delerium, convulsions and death.

I looked after a lady who was drinking 5L of water a day due to a delusional belief that she wasn't getting enough fluids aka psychogenic polydipsia. She ended up nearly dying because of the severe electolyte imbalances.

I know that Wikipedia isn't always that reliable, but it's article on water intoxication is pretty good
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

Answer 3

18 Glasses

Answer 4

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, ironically by that which makes up the majority of it - common water.[1] Normal, healthy (both physically and nutritionally) 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.

I would assume after reading that paragraph that you're okay, and it is probably healthy as long as you drink one about every hour. It is actually healthy to drink 8 glasses a day. that's what my health teacher told us last year.

Answer 5

yep - you can get water poisoning

here's the rule of thumb

1/2 oz per pound of body weight

so for my 256 lbs - I need a gallon/day (128 oz)
and 8 oz extra for every 25 lbs over ideal weight

all the best

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

WATER IS GOOD FOR YOU BUT I THINK 18 CUPS IS WAYY 2 MCUH!!!! usually they say 8 cups a day. a few more is ok... most likely not 10 cups more!!!!!! it micht be ok.. but i dont think its normal

Answer 8

18 8oz. fluid ounces is way too much!!! you could drown your body from the inside out, and that would kill you

Answer 9

no Because you can get water poisoning.