Drinking too much water

I always drink quite a lot and thought I drank about 3-4 litres a day, so today I thought I'd count how many glasses I drank. I measured this morning and each glass is 200ml (ie 5 to a litre).

It's now 6:15 and I've had 21 glasses, which is over 5 litres. I'm quite worried now as I would guess that I'll be drinking quite a few more this evening, taking me up to the 6 or 7 litre mark. I had no idea I was drinking quite this much. I know drinking excessive amounts can flood your body and make you feel ill but I really don't feel ill drinking this much - if anything I feel dehydrated if I've been drinking less.

Although I'm not drinking enough to kill me I was wondering if there were any health risks related to drinking the amount I am. I seriously underestimated the amount I drink and am worried - help!

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Reply 1

hapa_girl

21 glasses? wow that is alot. I don't actually know any health risks I'm sorry, all I know is generally, too much water poisons your bloodstream or something like that, so just careful how you take it!

Reply 2

generalebriety

Depends on the size of the glass. :smile:

I'd say I drank about that much on a good day. I don't think it matters - being dehydrated is worse.

Reply 3

Hana_1987

One can die from drinking too much water apparently..generally it's recommended you drink about 2 litres a day, and in hot water probably 3-3.5 litres..so maybe somehow try and cut down?

Reply 4

bedbug

I could cut down I suppose but it's just annoying. I feel fine drinking this amount but the recommended amount is less than half what I'm drinking. Do I go down towards the recommend and feel dehydrated or do I keep on as I am and hope for the best?

Ugh.

Reply 5

lil one

wow you must have amazing skin! I drink like 1litre a day :redface:

Reply 6

Glory

its not the amount you drink which is the problem, its the dilution of sodium in your body which is the problem. According to the stuff ive read online about it.

Reply 7

Charl

lil_one

wow you must have amazing skin! I drink like 1litre a day :redface:

I've been drinking loads of water lately too, mainly due to the heat.. the only downside, is how much need to wee. :p:

Reply 8

Gem

I guess if you feel ok, then its probably not doing any damage, but I'm no doctor so don't take my word for it!

Are you drinking because you feel really thirsty? That could be a sign of diabetes, not trying to worry you, just saying :smile:

Then again, it could just be the heat making you feel really thirsty, and drinking water is good for you, much better than fizzy pop or milkshakes! I'd say if you feel ok, then I doubt it is harming you, but maybe next time you need to go to the doctors, just mention it :smile:

Reply 9

orbelina

you must need the loo all the time! :eek:

Reply 10

lil one

today ive only drunk 250ml woopsie :s-smilie:

Reply 11

gyrase

Over-drinking will cause blood pressure to rise, which is definitely not good, as less salts will be taken into the body causing neurological defunct.

The recommended is 8 glasses which is equilant to half a gallon of water.

Reply 12

Hana_1987

You're an active kinda person though, aren't you squirly? So maybe the amount you're drinking is ok because your body needs you to replace the fluids it loses

Reply 13

bedbug

Gem

Are you drinking because you feel really thirsty? That could be a sign of diabetes, not trying to worry you, just saying :smile:

Yeah I did think about that but I tested negative a few years ago. Then again, I don't really eat chocolate or anything so I probably wouldn't notice unstable blood sugar levels.. might see if I can do a finger prick test or something just to be sure.

Hana_1987

You're an active kinda person though, aren't you squirly? So maybe the amount you're drinking is ok because your body needs you to replace the fluids it loses

I am quite.. I mean 1 litre of what I drank today was drank at the gym so that could be a factor, but even so I'm not sure if this amount is normal even for someone exercising a decent amount. God I wish I'd never counted now, I've got myself all worried :rolleyes:

Reply 14

random_bloke

if you're thirsty have a drink!

I guess it's perhaps just been hot today.

Reply 15

bedbug

It's not just today though, this is an average day.

Reply 16

Charl

You must literally wee like every 30 mins! :p:

Reply 17

bedbug

Charl!

You must literally wee like every 30 mins! :p:

Pretty much!

Reply 18

goonerjack

i think if you feel thirsty you should just drink... seems silly to deny your body of it when you're thirsty!

i played football last night and in the course of 2 hours drank 2.5 litres, which is already over the recommended daily limit! but yeah, if you need it then drink it

Reply 19

Paragon

The recommended daily intake of 2 litres of water is just an average. I do cardiovascular exercising (cycling) everyday, so I drink a lot of water; up to 1 litre during 30 minutes of exercising. If I go to the gym (2-3 times per week), then I drink around 2-3 litres, but that's because I take creatine. So, I would say it depends how much water your body needs.

If you have to go to the loo too often, then your body might excrete too much vitamins/minerals/etc. in relation to how much you intake. A deficiency in vitamins might cause a number of diseases (especially related to water soluble vitamins, which don't stay long in the body). As Glory mentioned, sodium and potassium ions in your body are responsible for transmission of nerve impulses and water balance. As sodium and potassium are taken from food with help of vitamins/minerals, you might actually feel a bit "dehydrated".

If you go the gym, you can prolly get an energy drink with Na+ etc in it.

(quess IB Chemistry is good for something=)