Kidneys work day and night to filter blood, eliminate waste, and at the same time, regulate the amount of fluid and electrolytes needed for the body. When you drink more water than the kidneys can handle, that excess liquid can be harmful to health.
Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
For most healthy people, drinking water regularly throughout the day is completely normal. The real danger only occurs when you drink too much water in too short a time, especially when the drinking rate exceeds the kidney's ability to excrete. At this time, excess water will dilute sodium levels and disrupt fluid balance in the body.
Drinking too much water can overload the kidney's excretory capacity. Regularly consuming too much fluid will dilute sodium in the blood, leading to hyponatremia.
In mild cases, you may feel nausea, headache, or confusion. When it worsens, this condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Maintaining a stable balance of fluids and electrolytes (including sodium) is one of the core functions of the kidneys. When water flows in faster than this organ's ability to react, the balance will be broken. Hyponatremia can occur even in healthy people, especially when drinking too quickly or in people with conditions affecting fluid balance in the body.
Causing the kidneys to work harder to excrete excess fluid
When you drink more water than the body's actual needs, the kidneys are forced to increase urine production to expel excess water. That is why drinking too much water often leads to you having to go to the toilet continuously, accompanied by signs that the urine is very pale or completely transparent. Therefore, you should still pay attention to adjust the amount of water you drink accordingly.
You should drink water in small sips, spread evenly from morning to night instead of waiting to be too thirsty to drink a large glass.
