The body is made mostly of water and in most cases, people are advised to drink about eight glasses of water on a daily basis. This comes with benefits such as clearing the skin, healing colds, and aiding in weight loss, among other health benefits. Although drinking enough water is very important for overall health, Dr Janvier Rusizana, a general practitioner at La Nouvelle Clinic in Remera, Kigali, says on rare occasions, it’s possible for one to consume too much water. Drinking too much water could lead to a condition referred to as hyponatremia, over hydration or water intoxication, which causes the sodium in your body to become diluted. “Water is vital to the human body and staying hydrated should be a top priority for anyone looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, however, at some point, people might find themselves taking too much,” Dr Rusizana says. He adds that over hydration can lead to falling electrolyte levels; this can cause headaches and muscle weakness. Normally, he explains, electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium help regulate everything from the kidneys to the heart. If one consumes too much water, Dr Rusizana says, there may not be enough of these electrolytes in the body to keep it functioning properly. “Every cell in the body needs water to function correctly. However, drinking too much can lead to water intoxication and serious health consequences. Symptoms include disorientation, nausea, and vomiting, among other signs. Also, according to Healthline, pale yellow urine that looks like lemonade indicates a healthy level of hydration. Colourless urine, on the other hand, might mean one is over hydrated and needs to reduce their water intake. Although other conditions can lead to frequent urination, experts say this sign could also be one of the signs that one is taking in more water than required. Sandrine Twagiramariya, a fitness coach, believes that those engaged in strenuous physical activities need to increase their water intake. However, she points out that from a medical point of view, it’s also important to allow your natural thirst to be your guide in most situations, so that you don’t end up drinking more than required. Effects According to WebMD, drinking too much water can cause the sodium levels in your blood to drop, which can lead to headaches and nausea. Drinking too much water has also been associated with low levels of sodium in the blood. This can cause the body’s cells to swell and retain fluid. In some cases, the cells in the tissues of the face or extremities feel or look puffy if you’ve been drinking too much water. How much is too much? Twagiramariya says it is vital to always stay hydrated for effective bodily functions. For instance, she mentions that studies recommend drinking 13.7 litres of fluids a day if you are a man and 2.7 litres for a woman. Dr Rusizana notes that kidney disease, and even pregnancy, can also alter the amount of water a person should drink each day. He says certain medications can affect the body’s fluid balance, adding that one’s individual hydration needs can change daily as well. Dr Rusizana says that there is also a need to understand that the exact amount of water one needs each day depends on factors like age, sex, activity level, and how hot it is outside. “Trusting your body is more important too as one is able to know how much they can drink until they are not thirsty, drinking above that is not recommended,” he says. Private Kamanzi, a nutritionist, says that when we talk of drinking enough water, it means the target amounts include not only water and other fluids one drinks, but water from food sources as well. Kamanzi says this means that one doesn’t need to only take in water to stay hydrated, instead, other fluids can contain necessary nutrients you don’t get from regular water that are important for overall health.
