Watch the video: Risk of water intoxication – how much water is too much?
What happens when we drink too much water? Every cell in the body needs water to function properly. However, drinking too much can lead to water intoxication and serious health consequences. Symptoms of water intoxication range from confusion and disorientation to nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, water intoxication can cause brain swelling and be fatal. Endurance athletes, for example marathon runners in competitions or in extreme training situations, are particularly vulnerable. Drinking too much water in a short period of time increases the amount of water in the blood. This can dilute the electrolytes, especially sodium, in the blood. Sodium helps maintain fluid balance inside and outside cells. When sodium levels drop from excessive water consumption, fluids from the outside migrate inside the cells, causing them to swell. When this happens to brain cells, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening. But at what level of water does it become dangerous? According to studies, it is not about the total amount, but about the time in which the water is absorbed. The kidneys can excrete 0.8 to 1.0 liters per hour. Drinking more can be harmful. But that shouldn’t stop us from drinking enough fluids regularly throughout the day.