Many people suffer from the effects of dehydration, caused by drinking less than the recommended amount of water for maintaining bodily functions. It seems incredible, then, that it is possible to drink too much water, and even more surprising that the consequences are often more disastrous than dehydration. Athletes, military trainees, college students, and advocates of various fad diets including water fasts are most likely to suffer excessive water intake. Anyone who drinks water faster than the body can process it risks severe consequences.
Primary Effects
The most common effect of drinking too much water is a critical drop in the level of sodium in your blood. This condition --- hyponatremia --- may occur when you rapidly consume more water than your body excretes through perspiration, urination, or by any other method. The kidney is the main organ that processes fluids you consume, and when your kidneys cannot keep up with your fluid intake, the Mayo Clinic notes, excess fluid winds up in your cells. Sodium in your blood regulates the amount of fluid in your body's cells. "Scientific American" reports that for adults, normal sodium levels range from 135 to 145 millimoles, a measure of the amount of sodium per liter of blood.
Complications
The onset of hyponatremia usually results in symptoms that mimic several other conditions, including dehydration, as your body responds to the excess water in your cells in various ways. You may experience nausea, then vomiting, as the body attempts to restore your fluid and sodium balance. Swelling of your ankles and legs, along with fatigue or muscle cramps, may occur. These problems alone are usually not a clear indication for you or medical personnel to determine that you are experiencing hyponatremia. In cases of extreme physical-exertion stress, your body may further exacerbate the problem of the loss of sodium and other electrolytes in the blood by sending a signal to the kidneys to conserve water, instead of excreting it, according to "Scientific American." This message can decrease your perspiration and urination rate from a normal level of 800 to 1,000 milliliters per hour to as little as 100 milliliters.
Severe Consequences
The most severe consequence of drinking too much water, and the most dangerous, is swelling of cells in your brain, which can't be detected by casual observation or a simple physical examination. The "New York Times" Health Guide notes that acute hyponatremia, characterized by a rapid blood sodium drop from excess water intake, can result in seizures, comas, respiratory failure, or death. Unlike your limbs, the brain has little room to expand within the skull. The result of the increased pressure on the brain's soft tissues often causes confusion, disorientation, convulsions, and comas. It may also lead to tragic complications, such as brain death and respiratory failure.
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