Well, we all know that water is quintessential for survival and good health. And the human body needs an adequate amount of water to carry out its bodily processes well, but drinking too much of it can lead to serious health problems – water intoxication. The kidneys can filter about 0.8 to 1.0 litres of water per hour and excess intake of water can distress the body’s electrolyte balance. It is hard to drink too much water unknowingly, but it can happen, generally due to overhydrating during sporting events or heavy training. Other medical terms for water intoxication include:

  • Hyperhydration
  • Water toxaemia
  • Water poisoning

Though there aren’t any specific recommendations about how excess water can be fatal for a person, however, drinking more than a litre or so of water per hour for extended periods of time is not something that healthcare professionals advise.
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Read on to learn more about water intoxication, its symptoms and how it can be fatal.

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What Is Water Intoxication?

Water intoxication is also known as water poisoning, water intoxication leads to disturbance of brain function and activity. This increases the amount of water in the blood, eventually diluting the electrolytes, mainly sodium. When the sodium levels fall below 135 millimoles per litre, it is referred to as hyponatremia. Sodium is the key electrolyte that aids to maintain the fluid balance inside and outside of the cells, and when sodium levels drop off, due to overconsumption of water, fluids will travel from outside to the inside of the cells, leading them to swell. And when this happens to brain cells, it can be very dangerous and life-threatening.

Also Read: Types Of Water: From Tap To Infused, Know About All 8 Variants

Causes 

Drinking too much water can result in hyponatremia when the blood sodium level becomes very low, And if you drink more water than your kidneys can filter out, it will dilute the sodium in the bloodstream, making the cells swell.

People involved in very intense physical activity like military training or running a marathon are those who suffer from this problem.

Those with an underlying mental health condition or forced consumption as a form of abuse are other causes. Water intoxication has also been associated with using the drug MDMA, which people often use for dancing for a long duration in a hot climate and the drug’s tendency to raise body temperature can also make a person drink a lot of water.

Though it is good for preventing dehydration, it can rapidly become too much, as this drug also causes urine retention, letting all that extra fluid build up in the system.
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What Are The Dangers Of Water Intoxication?

When a person drinks too much amount of water, the cells in the brain begin to swell and the pressure inside the skull increases. And this results in the initial symptoms of water intoxication which include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Severe cases can result in more serious symptoms like:

  • Drowsiness
  • Muscle weakness 
  • High blood pressure
  • Double vision
  • Confusion
  • Unable to recognise sensory information
  • Breathing issue

Fluid build-up in the brain is known as cerebral edema, which affect the brain stem and result in central nervous system dysfunction. And in very serious cases, water intoxication can lead to seizures, brain damage, coma and even death.

How Much Water Intake Is Too Much?

Well, there isn’t any set intake of water that may result in life-threatening water poisoning. Instead, it’s ideal to think in terms of the amount of water that a person drinks per hour. Also, age, gender and overall health status of a person play a vital role. A healthy person’s kidneys can flush out about 20 to 28 litres of water per day, but they can only eliminate about 1 litre every hour, which makes it difficult for the kidney to maintain function when you drink more than 1 litre of water per hour. Also, the kidneys of elderly people and children tend to be less functioning, so the adequate amount of water that they can safely have per hour would be a bit lesser. Water intoxication can develop more rapidly in children or older people.

Is Water Intoxication Preventable?

If a person drinks a lot of water over a short period, then follow these simple guidelines that can help avoid water intoxication.

  • Drink water when you feel thirsty first and once you feel quenched, hold off until you begin to feel thirsty again
  • Observe your urine colour, as it can be a valuable indicator. Very clear urine may be a sign that you’re at risk of overconsuming it. Though seeing clear urine is not really bad, it can be a good sign that you don’t require to drink water for some time
  • When going for any intense activity, it is important to hydrate yourself with an electrolyte drink that contains sodium like a sports drink.