Can i get over hydrated

Also known as water poisoning, water intoxication is a disruption of brain function caused by drinking too much water. Doing so increases the amount of water in the blood. This can dilute the electrolytes, especially sodium, in the blood.

Sodium helps maintain the balance of fluids inside and outside of cells. When sodium levels drop due to excessive water consumption, fluids travel from the outside to the inside of cells, causing them to swell.

Bottom line : Water intoxication results from drinking too much water. The excess water dilutes sodium in the blood and causes fluids to move inside cells, causing them to swell. When a person consumes an excessive amount of water and cells in their brain start to swell, the pressure inside their skull increases.

This causes the first symptoms of water intoxication, which include:. A buildup of fluid in the brain is called cerebral edema. This can affect the brain stem and cause central nervous system dysfunction. In severe cases, water intoxication can cause seizures, brain damage, a coma , and even death.

Bottom line : Drinking too much water can increase the pressure inside the skull. This can cause various symptoms and, in severe cases, become fatal. Water intoxication is rare, and it is very difficult to consume too much water by accident. However, it can happen — there have been numerous medical reports of death due to excessive water intake.

Water intoxication most commonly affects people participating in sporting events or endurance training, or people who have various mental health conditions. Water intoxication is particularly common among endurance athletes.

It can happen if a person drinks a lot of water without correctly accounting for electrolyte losses. Instances of water intoxication at these events have resulted in death.

One case involved a runner who had collapsed after a marathon. The runner then developed water on the brain, known as hydrocephalus , and a hernia in his brain stem, which caused his death. One medical report described 17 soldiers who developed hyponatremia after drinking too much water during training. According to another report , three soldiers died due to hyponatremia and cerebral edema.

These deaths were associated with drinking more than 5 liters of water in just a few hours. The symptoms of hyponatremia can be misinterpreted as those of dehydration. According to one report , a soldier who received an incorrect diagnosis of dehydration and heat stroke died from water intoxication as a result of rehydration efforts.

Compulsive water drinking, also called psychogenic polydipsia , can be a symptom of various mental health conditions. It is most common among people with schizophrenia , but it can also arise in people with affective disorders, psychosis, and personality disorders. Bottom line : Water intoxication can be life threatening, and it is most common among soldiers in training, endurance athletes, and people with schizophrenia. It is difficult to consume too much water by accident.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Water Balance. Test your knowledge. The endocrine system is made up of glands and organs that regulate and control many bodily functions by producing and secreting hormones, chemicals that affect various bodily activities.

More Content. Overhydration By James L. Click here for the Professional Version. Overhydration is an excess of water in the body. Did You Know A doctor's examination. Restriction of fluid intake. Was This Page Helpful? Yes No. Exercising Safely. Intravenous Feeding. But, it turns out, you can overhydrate , too. Overhydration is exactly what it sounds like: It occurs when you take in too many liquids, and it can be a serious condition.

You need a healthy amount of sodium in your bloodstream to help your cells hold on to water, but when you drink too much water, your sodium levels become diluted and your cells become waterlogged, explains Ansel.

As a result, you can end up feeling nauseated, confused, run-down, and irritable, according to the Mayo Clinic. Athletes should be extra careful, Marc Leavey, M. But even if you're not an athlete who regularly trains outside, it's worth being wary of overhydration whenever you're exercising outdoors during the summer.