We really need to drink water for our health, but if we drink too much water, we are putting ourselves at risk of hyponatremia.
We need to drink water for our health, but if we drink too much water, we are putting ourselves at risk of hyponatremia.
Johana Pakenham, a female athlete, experienced a near-death situation after drinking about five liters of water in 2018.
She shared her experience with BBC. She didn't know that drinking water like she did could be life-threatening.
One day, Johana participated in a marathon and drank five liters of water there.
She experienced a headache and collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital.
This was a case of hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when a person drinks more water than their body needs. Drinking water dilutes the sodium and other essential elements in the body.
Another woman, Michelle Whitehead, died after drinking excessive water in September 2023.
She was undergoing treatment for a mental illness and developed a habit of drinking less water during that time.
One day, she drank too much water, but her breathing couldn't be revived.
Michelle Whitehead was under care in a mental health unit where she started drinking excessive water, then slipped into a coma. By the time the staff realized it, it was too late.
When can we say that we have consumed too much water?
If you drink so much that your stomach expands or your body feels heavy, that is the limit.
Drink water until your thirst is quenched, then stop.
Avoid consuming too much water or other fluids at the same time.
Therefore, whenever you want to drink water, whether after playing sports or after drinking alcohol, remember that if you drink too much water, it can make you sick.
How should you drink water according to your needs?
The amount of water that each person needs to drink daily depends on their health, age, body size, the type of work they do, and the area where they live.
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated in a research that drinking one liter of water a day is good for women, and drinking 1.5 liters of water is better for men.
This substance is a combination of water, soft drinks, and food we consume.
Research says that 20 percent of the water that enters our body comes from our diet.
Other scientists also say that we should drink two liters or eight glasses of water daily.
However, a recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Aberdeen in 2022 revealed that drinking two liters of water per day is excessive.
Experts say that since most of the water enters the body through food, the body should not have more than 1.8 liters of water, which is slightly less than two liters.
Professor John Speakman from the University of Aberdeen told BBC, "The amount of water we should drink is actually the necessary amount for our body and the difference between the required amount and the water present in our diet."
Since people do not measure the amount of water in their food, they miscalculate the amount of water in the water they drink.
It is essential to maintain a balance and drink water according to our body's specific requirements.
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