When popular Ghanaian rapper Okyeame Kwame said in a viral video that too much drinking of water causes dehydration and could affect emotions, it did not take so long for the public to notice the falsity in the statement.
Of course, we drink water to prevent dehydration; therefore, it is contradictory that consumption of too much water will equally make your system dry.
But is there any concept such as overconsumption of water?
Until the Okyeame Kwame video, there is a high chance you may not have considered it, especially as we even struggle to keep up with the recommended daily average of eight glasses of water.
For those in medicine, water intoxication is a familiar terrain.
“An excessive intake of water does not cause dehydration. It rather leads to water intoxication, a rare condition resulting from consuming too much water,” Dr Felix Boateng Tabi, a medical doctor at the Manhyia Government Hospital in Kumasi, told DUBAWA Ghana.
He stated that even though it is recommended that an average of four litres of water is consumed daily, meeting the target within a short period could lead to intoxication.
“The average daily water intake should be about 4 litres. However, consuming this amount within a short period, say two to three hours, can lead to intoxication. The overconsumption dilutes the blood plasma and decreases blood sodium to dangerously low levels, causing mild to life-threatening issues,” he clarified.
He further explained that diluting the blood with excess water can cause cerebral oedema within the cells as they attempt to balance movements, resulting in swelling in some body parts.
Symptoms of this situation may include muscle cramps, nausea, seizures, or respiratory problems, primarily observed in athletes and individuals engaged in strenuous activities.
What should I do if I notice symptoms?
The best action to take regarding someone showing symptoms of water intoxication is to seek urgent medical assistance because the situation can lead to death if not treated, according to a 2019 medically reviewed article published on Healthline.com
Aside from limiting fluids, “eating a salty snack may provide some short-term relief while waiting for help to arrive,” the article advised.
How much is too much?
There are no official guidelines about how much water needs to be consumed because the right amount differs, depending on factors such as body weight and level of physical activity.
However, a 2013 study says that the kidney can process between 20-28 litres of water every day. In another study, it was quoted that the kidney excretion capacity is between 0.8 to 1.0 litres every hour.
Is it preventable?
People who find themselves drinking a lot of water are advised to stick with drinking water at the first feeling of thirst and hold off until another time when the feeling comes up again.
A publication on Medicalnewstoday.com, a web-based outlet for medical information, says that even though the occurrence is rare, it is more common among athletes, soldiers in training, and people with schizophrenia.
The publication, which has been medically reviewed, says that “Relying on thirst may not work for everyone.”
“To estimate the right amount, it can help to consider calories. If a person needs 2,000 calories per day, they should also consume 2,000 millilitres of water per day,” the article said.
Conclusion
Drinking too much water does not cause dehydration; rather, it leads to water intoxication, which can also be deadly.
