Why drinking too much water is dangerous, scientists told
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It is generally accepted that during the day you need to drink about 8 glasses of water. There is also data that the daily norm of water for men is 3.7 liters, and for women – 2.7 liters. However, this amount must be adjusted taking into account the characteristics of each person. Experts say that excessive consumption of water can be dangerous to health.
It is noted that in this case, water intoxication can occur – hyponatremia, which occurs when the concentration of sodium in the blood drops to extremely low values. It is noteworthy that many symptoms of hyponatremia are similar to symptoms of dehydration. These include:
- headache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- confusion;
- fatigue;
- muscle spasms and cramps.
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Electrolyte imbalance
Electrolytes (such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium) help regulate work of kidneys and heart. Drinking too much water disrupts these vital functions.
Water retention, edema
Too much water can cause sodium levels in the blood to drop, causing swelling of the body's cells, resulting in fluid retention and edema.
Bladder problems
Excessive fluid intake can also increase the frequency and severity symptoms of overactive bladder (HAB). Even if a person is not diagnosed with this condition, the bladder can be affected.
Kidney Dysfunction
When a person drinks too much water, the kidneys cannot get rid of from excess fluid. As a result, the sodium content in the blood decreases, and a chain reaction of biological dysfunction occurs.
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