Question:
Is there such a thing as drinking to much water?

   — juneway20 (posted on January 5, 2009)

January 5, 2009
Barbara, As a medic I have actually seen this in a patient and the answer is yes. Drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication and hyponatremia. The sodium dilutes in the body and basically the more water you push in the worse it gets. It's the equivalent of drowning your cells and among many symptoms, can cause coma and death. I wouldn't recommend that anyone drink more than the recommended 8 glasses a day unless you work in an environment in which you sweat profusely and NEED more than that, and even then be cautious.
   — Elizabeth J.

January 5, 2009
You can get very nauseated if you drink to much.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 5, 2009
It's extremely difficult to drink too much water, but yes there is a such thing. People have died from it. I know of one athlete that consumed 6 gallons in a few hours and died. There are also cases of death during hazing involving drinking too much water. BUT it's extremely rare. You'd have to consume past the point of feeling ill and keep going...gallons and gallons in just a few hours. Most of us struggle to get in 1 gallon a day. I, personally, aim for 2 gallons a day but rarely get there.
   — Launa N.

January 5, 2009
Yes, even in those cases where you NEED more than usual, it is VITAL that you get the essential MINERALS as WELL as the water that you need. These are known as "electrolytes," and without them, even if you do not get an excess amount af water, you could STILL suffer ill effects. This is one of the reasons that sports figures drink sports drinks like Gatorade during extreme sports. It replenishes their fluids and their electrolytes at the same time. The downside of many sports drinks is that they often contain sugar which has debatable benefits. A more natural fruit juice would probably be more beneficial than the man-made variety of sweeteners available, since it would be more readily absorbed by the body without many of the questionable side effects of the man-made sweeteners.
   — hubarlow

January 5, 2009
yes there is such a thing as that you can drink to much water .I know there was on the news were this young man drink to much and it can kill him He died because He had to much to drink . From Ruth Rowe.
   — Ruth Rowe

January 6, 2009
I know for a fact if I drink too much water I get brin fog and I swell I hated when I was dieting they tell you to drink more water. I also felt like my lungs was exploxing n felt totally out of sink. Hospital IV's I would gain 10 lbs eay and they couldn't believe it until it happened. I would end up taking the durtrics and drinking DISTILLED WATER to solve the problems. But Doctors would say oh that is true until they saw it the hospital. Some diet or drinks that say SODIUM FREE is not in product -lies cause I will swell..NO I don't have a sodium problem according to blood work so explain that -the doctors can not explain. KNow your body.
   — Eneleh

January 6, 2009
Barbara, Yes is the answer. The medic answered correctly your question. The only other thing I can answer for you is that there is such a thing as diabetes insipidus where you are thirsty and you drink but you retain water which is also very bad for you. Its an antidiuretic hormone problem. Check with your doc to make sure you don't have any brain or hormone problems and continue. Also if 8 glasses is too much, try 6. vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl