WE are all too familiar with the benefits of drinking adequate water and staying hydrated. It is clearly established that we need to drink water on a daily basis for our bodies to properly function, more so if we engage in exercise and strenuous physical activity.
We’ve all heard the advice that we need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. While this may generally be true, some of us may need less, while others may need more, depending on a variety of factors, including the amount of exercise we do, the weather and environment. A person doing daily exercise in preparation for a marathon in a tropical country, for instance, will probably need more than eight glasses a day, while a sedentary individual residing in cold climate may need less than eight glasses.
That being said, not consuming enough water may cause a host of physical ailments—dehydration and urinary-tract infection, to name a few. On the other side of the coin, drinking too much water may also have negative effects on our health. Enter hyponatremia. This takes place when we overhydrate, and our kidneys are not able to expel the excess water. This means we are drinking more than our kidneys can deal with.
Signs of overhydration may include: headaches, nausea, feeling tired and fatigued, vomiting, muscle spasms and cramping, among others.
Drinking too much water may lead to an imbalance where liquid moves from our blood to inside our cells, making them swell. This poses a potentially dangerous situation that may be life threatening. While such cases are quite rare, it’s a possibility we should be aware of, nonetheless.
Experts have advised that we should drink when we are thirsty. Hydrating past the point when our thirst has been quenched poses the danger of overhydration. Also, we should look at the color of our urine. If it is too dark, we are definitely dehydrated, and should drink more. But if it is too clear, like we are peeing out water, that could be a sign of overhydration.
Take note that, while quite rare, water intoxication may lead to serious health problems than can, in extreme cases, lead to seizures, coma and even death.
Doubtless, water is a good thing. It is essential to life and our best friend when we are working out. But too much of it can be equally dangerous as taking too little of it. Stay safe and hydrated while working out, but let us be careful not to overdo it.