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Drinking Too Much Water Can Lead To Brain Swelling, Says Study
The rise of the scorching heat will make you drink more water. And doctors advise staying hydrated is the key to prevent dehydration, but drinking too much water or overhydration can be bad for you.
Recent research has indicated that drinking too much of water can lead to excess fluid accumulation and can cause dangerous low sodium levels in the blood or even brain swelling. In this article, you will learn about water intoxication.
What Is Water Intoxication?
Water intoxication is defined as a low blood concentration of sodium (hyponatremia) that happens when you drink excess water without adequate replacement of sodium.
Drinking adequate amounts of water may help regulate body temperature, prevent constipation, flush out toxins and perform all major body functions. Overhydration can also be referred to as hyponatremia, hyperhydration, and water poisoning. All these are the same health conditions caused by an electrolyte imbalance.
Doctors say the normal intake of water should be 8 to 10 glasses a day.
What Are The Causes Of Water Intoxication
The causes of hyponatremia can occur due to many reasons.
- Compulsive water drinking is known as psychogenic polydipsia and it's associated with mental illness.
- Water intoxication is linked with a combination of drinking lots of fluids and also an increased secretion of an anti-diuretic hormone, which causes the kidneys to hold on to the water.
- Athletes might develop hyponatremia following heat-related injuries.
- Accidental hyponatremia can also occur due to abnormal kidney dysfunction and gastroenteritis.
- Water intoxication is also caused by illnesses treated by medical intervention such as the use of electrolytes, nasogastric tube feeding, neurological/psychiatric medications.
Water Intoxication Symptoms
The
common
hyponatremia
symptoms
are:
1.
Nausea
and
vomiting
2.
Headaches,
confusion
and
disorientation
3.
Psychotic
symptoms
like
inappropriate
behaviour,
delusions,
psychosis
and
hallucinations
4.
Difficulty
in
breathing
5.
Muscle
weakness,
aches,
cramping
and
fatigue
6.
Frequent
urination
7.
Changes
in
irregular
heartbeat
and
blood
pressure
8.
Seizures,
brain
stem
herniation,
coma,
severe
drowsiness
and
respiratory
arrest
Water intoxication can also affect babies, especially those under 9 months old and in children as well. The symptoms in babies include crying, irregular breathing, changes in behaviour, brain damage, vomiting and shaking.
Why Drinking Too Much Water Is Bad?
1. Causes Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia occurs when there is a decrease in sodium levels that happens due to quick overhydration. Sodium is essential for the body, as it helps in cell signalling and performs other functions in the body. So, when your sodium levels drop, you may experience nauseousness, fatigue or might even get a headache.
2. Causes Hypokalaemia
Water intoxication can cause hypokalaemia or a decrease in potassium ions. When you drink excess water, the balance between intracellular and extracellular potassium ions gets hampered. This can lead to severe diarrhoea and prolonged sweating.
3. Causes Brain Swelling
When there is a reduction of sodium in the body, water enters the cells through the semipermeable cell membrane. This results in swelling of the brain cells and can cause serious damage to the brain, muscle tissues and organs.
4. Overburdens The Kidneys
Consumption of excess water can put pressure on your kidneys to function constantly. The kidneys have the ability to filter a litre of fluid per hour from the body and beyond that, the kidneys have to work extra hard to maintain homoeostasis.
5. Overburdens The Heart
The heart performs many vital functions from pumping the blood to supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. When you drink too much of water, it increases the blood volume in the body. This increased blood volume can put unnecessary pressure on the blood vessels and the heart.
What Is The Maximum Amount Of Water To Drink In A Day?
The
daily
fluid
intake
varies
and
depends
on
the
person's
sex,
age,
medical
conditions,
and
daily
activity
as
stated
by
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention.
The
National
Academics
of
Sciences
Engineering
Medicine
recommends
women
to
drink
2.7
litres
of
water
and
men
to
drink
a
total
of
3.7
litres
of
water.
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