How to Know If You Have Water Poisoning
It’s no news that drinking water is very important. Much has been written about how to figure out how much you should be drinking each day and then find creative ways to get there. However, it may shock you that you can actually drink too much water, and this can be very dangerous for your health. Here’s what you need to know about water poisoning.
What is water poisoning?
According to Dr. Dan Brennan, who wrote on the subject for WebMD, water poisoning or water intoxication occurs when you drink so much water that there is too much of it in your cells. These cells swell, and the ones in your brain can put pressure on it, so you can get confused, fall asleep, or get a headache. If this continues, you may get high blood pressure or a low heart rate.
Sodium is particularly affected by overhydration, which can lead to a condition called hyponatremia. When the sodium concentration in your blood is abnormally low, you may feel nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, decreased energy, irritability or restlessness, muscle weakness or spasms, seizures, or coma. In severe cases, you can die.
How to know if you are drinking too much water?
According to WebMD, watch the color of your urine. It shouldn’t be clear too often, though that’s subjective. Also keep in mind that, contrary to popular belief , the way your urine looks reflects what your body is trying to get rid of, not what is actually in your body right now .
On average, you should urinate six to eight times a day, although if you’re a big drinker or coffee drinker, you can expect to urinate up to 10 times. Just watch and make sure you don’t exceed this too often.
The symptoms listed above, such as nausea or lack of energy, may be similar to those of dehydration, but don’t let your body fool you into drinking more water. Note the change in color of the arms, legs, and lips. When you’re over-moisturized, they can swell or discolor.
So how much water is too much water?
In one case, which was the subject of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology , a 64-year-old woman was estimated to have drunk 30 to 40 glasses of water the night before her death. This is a significant amount that you probably won’t get close to, but the amount you actually need is pretty subjective. It is based on your body structure, the climate you live in, your gender and your physical activity. In 2019, a doctor told Lifehacker that women should aim to drink just over two liters (or nine cups) of fluid each day, while men should aim for three liters (or 13 cups). If you exercise, are in a hot or dry climate, consume a lot of diuretics (such as caffeinated drinks), or take medications that require more water, you will need more water.
The good news is that your body will tell you when you’re thirsty, and you should just listen to it. WebMD recommends “knowing when your body needs” water. While it probably won’t hurt you to try to hit some arbitrary water intake goal each day, instead try practicing mindful drinking and only drink a sip when you’re thirsty.