Did you know about these side effects of excessive water consumption 27^th June 2022

Water is the solution to all problems, according to most people. And no doubt, it is indeed one of the most potent ingredients for a healthy life. Good skin, weight loss, better hair, or even mild headache, water is a cure for all. It is an essential resource for life to exist and flourish. However, excess of anything is poison. Similarly, excessive consumption of water can have several complications and side effects.

Surprising, isn’t it? This article is just for you if you want to know how overhydration can harm you. We will look at all the side effects that excessive water consumption can cause. Let’s take a look at different kinds of overhydration and their causes.

1. Overdrinking:

Overdrinking is a condition that happens when you drink too much water and your kidneys fail to flush out as much urine. This leads to water accumulating in your bloodstream, causing the dilution of essential substances.

2. Water retention:

This situation arises when the body cannot flush the water correctly due to various medical conditions. Several heart diseases and liver and kidney problems may cause water retention in your body.
The colour of the urine is a good indicator of water levels in your body. Pale yellow colour urine indicates the optimal amount of water in your body, while darker colour urine indicates dehydration. If, however, your urine is transparent, that is a clear indication of overhydration.

Now let’s take a look at the effects of overhydration:

1. Water intoxication:

When you consume more than five to six litres of water daily, you may start seeing symptoms of water intoxication. Some minor symptoms include headaches, cramps, spasms, vomiting, and fatigue. The more severe consequences of water intoxication can be seizures or blackouts.
If you start noticing symptoms like those mentioned above, rush to the nearest hospital. The excess amount of water in your body can lead to fluid build-ups in the cells leading to swelling. Swelling can lead to coma and seizures and can even be fatal if not given immediate medical attention.

2. Nausea or vomiting:

The symptoms of dehydration and overhydration are almost interchangeable. Since too much water is accumulated in the system, the body rejects the excess. This leads to diarrhoea or vomiting.

3. Headaches:

As the body’s salt levels deteriorate significantly, the cells swell. The swelling causes pressure inside the brain cells, causing severe headaches. Sometimes it can lead to clotting and troubled breathing as well.

4. Weakness and lethargy:

Like salt, the electrolytes dilute due to excess water in the body. Electrolytes are crucial when it comes to maintaining energy levels in your body. An imbalance in the electrolyte levels can lead to fatigue and weakness.
It can also cause muscle cramps and spasms. Your kidneys are working extra to flush out the unwanted water. This creates a hormonal reaction leading to drowsiness and feeling less energetic.

5. Swollen body parts:

Due to an increase in the water retention in your body, and the electrolyte imbalance, you may notice swelling in different parts of your body, such as the legs, lips and fingers. You may also notice a discolouration resulting due to hormonal changes caused by excessive water.

These are a few side effects of excessive water consumption. Excess water in your body can bring about various hormonal and other significant changes. Treatment for these should be taken under the guidance of a medical practitioner to avoid further complications. However, an immediate remedy to overhydration is the consumption of salts or electrolytes. Regaining the concentration of salt and electrolytes in your body can be a temporary cure.

Just like overhydration, there might be other issues in your body that you might not be aware of. Get an expert opinion to recognise any underlying issues and address them with proper and timely medication. Many online health insurance companies provide comprehensive coverage on all such check-ups and treatments that you might want to look into. Take advantage of this feature and benefit yourself and your loved ones.

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