Over Hydration More Dangerous than Dehydration

An adult human body is made up of water about 60% water. Water is easily the most important nutrient in the body and benefits of drinking ample amount of water are many. Fundamentally speaking water is life but still its health benefits are underrated probably due to abundant availability. Major benefits of drinking the right amount of water per day are that it aids optimal performance of the body by keeping all major organs hydrated and healthy and also by acting as a lubricant for various chemical processes in the body. Water also helps stimulate metabolism and curb cravings thus it help lose weight. Drinking water not only keeps one hydrated but also helps detoxify the body. Water also helps improve skin, digestive system and physical and mental health of a person. Unfortunately many a time tea, coffee, alcohol, juice or soda replaces the underrated plain old water in an individual’s lifestyle leading to dehydration and even chronic dehydration. On the other hand many times because of all the benefits of consuming water an individual overdoes it which again leads to over hydration.

About Dehydration

Dehydration is the condition in which the body loses more fluid than it gains. Without enough amount of water the body couldn’t function properly. Dehydration is more common in infants, children and elderly people. Dehydration can be mild, moderate or severe. The body keeps on losing water due to sweating, peeing, through tears and saliva. If a person ignore water intake then he can get affected by mild and moderate dehydration. Many a times due to medical conditions such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive sweating and peeing like in case of diabetes the body can lose water real fast. When this water is not replaced fast enough it can lead to severe dehydration. Symptoms of mild and moderate dehydration are dry mouth, muscle cramps, headache, thirst, dark yellow urine and more. On the other hand symptoms of severe dehydration include lack of energy, sleeplessness, sunken eyes and cheeks and irritability.

About Over Hydration

Over hydration is presence of excessive amount of water in the body. Although drinking too much water is seldom the reason for over hydration but in some cases it is. Over hydration mostly happens due to some medical condition or over drinking of water due to a psychiatric disorder known as psychogenic polydipsia. Over hydration causes low sodium levels in the blood stream the condition is called hyponatremia which is quite a serious condition. Over hydration can lead to seizures and more in an individual. Individuals with normal kidney functions mostly do not suffer from over hydration. But there are cases in which abnormal functioning of kidney, liver, heart or pituitary gland can lead to over hydration. Over hydration affects sodium levels which are important for normal functioning of the brain. In not so severe conditions over hydration can lead to lethargy, appetite loss, headache, confusion and loss of focus and in severe conditions it can lead to nausea, vomiting and seizures. Common treatment method for over hydration is to ensure restraint on fluid intake.

Over hydration vs. Dehydration

Although over hydration is a more dangerous condition than dehydration but drinking excess amount of water is rarely the reason for the same. Researchers equate over hydration to be as bad as severe dehydration. While it has been published that 8 glasses of water per day is the adequate amount of water that is required by the body but in reality the adequate amount varies depending upon many factors. The adequate amount varies depending upon individual's age, diet, body weight, activity level and even surroundings. So, how can one avoid both over hydration and dehydration? Firstly be conscious about your liquid intake especially if you indulge in heavy workouts as the said group are more susceptive to both over hydration and dehydration. Some other tips to avoid both over hydration and dehydration are to drink small amount of water frequently, eat more foods items that are water-based such as cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli and watermelon, limit salt intake and increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetable that are rich in electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, chlorine and more.