Drinking Too Much Water Can Actually Be Dangerous

The temperature in Round Rock, Texas, neared 100 degrees in June as John Putnam finished mowing his second lawn of the day. By that point, the 74-year-old landscaper had consumed nearly 3 gallons of water over about five hours in hopes it would fuel his hard day of work. Instead he felt nauseated and fatigued. When he went home to rest, he felt chest pain and had trouble breathing. He went to the hospital for what he believed was a heart attack, but to his surprise, it was something else: water intoxication.

Drinking water is crucial for preventing dehydration and keeping the body functioning, particularly in the heat of the summer. But consuming too much over a short period can lead to health problems including disorientation, nausea, vomiting and, in severe cases, seizures or death. Overhydration could be a growing issue, some researchers say, as more people train for endurance competitions like marathons, heat waves become more frequent and reusable water bottles become a staple of everyday life. The message of staying hydrated is so ubiquitous that 40-ounce, stainless-steel tumblers have become status symbols.

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When someone drinks too much water over a short period, it can lead to the dilution of sodium in the blood, known as hyponatremia or water intoxication. The condition can grow particularly dangerous when it leads to the swelling of brain cells. The expansion puts pressure on certain parts of the brain and can lead to coma, seizures or death, scientists say. Brooke Shields told Glamour last year she suffered a seizure after drinking too much water. A representative for Shields declined to comment.

Drinking too much water essentially makes it difficult for the body to keep up healthy levels of sodium, an electrolyte that helps balance the fluid in cells. A person’s kidneys can typically manage about one liter of water per hour, said Thunder Jalili, a professor of nutrition and integrative physiology at the University of Utah.

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In general, doctors recommend you drink to satiate your thirst. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends women and men consume about 11.5 cups and 15.5 cups of fluids a day, respectively, which includes fluid from water, other drinks and food.

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