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Are you drinking too much water?
continued from page 1
It's important to not wait until you feel thirsty, as thirst receptors are a poor judge of how fluid deficient you are, and you are already significantly dehydrated the time you feel a craving to drink. Aim to drink fluids regularly throughout the day rather than just drinking when you feel thirsty.
High temperatures can quickly lead to dehydration, so drink plenty of water in summer months or when visiting hot climates. If exposure to heat is excessive, it can also lead to heat stroke - this is because increased humidity stops sweat evaporating from the skin to cool the body. To help prevent this, acclimatise yourself to hot weather slowly by spending gradually longer periods of time in the heat, before returning to cooler shade - full acclimatisation can take up to three weeks. Avoid strenuous exercise, wear loose, lightweight clothes, and drink plenty of fluids. Cool off in a shower whenever possible.
However, even water intake requires moderation: recent media reports have focussed on people who have drunk too much water, which can overwhelm the kidneys and lead to swelling of the brain. Water intoxication can cause symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and, in extreme cases, can lead to coma and death, although this is rare. Certain drugs, including illegal ones such as ecstasy, can trigger drinking excessive amounts of water. It can also be caused by health conditions that affect water balance, such as kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and uncontrolled diabetes. Drinking excessive amounts of water can also have a psychological cause when it is known as psychogenic polydipsia.
Most people will come to no harm if they stick to drinking two to three litres of fluid per day. If you are concerned about your fluid intake, seek medical advice.
It's important to not wait until you feel thirsty, as thirst receptors are a poor judge of how fluid deficient you are, and you are already significantly dehydrated the time you feel a craving to drink. Aim to drink fluids regularly throughout the day rather than just drinking when you feel thirsty.
High temperatures can quickly lead to dehydration, so drink plenty of water in summer months or when visiting hot climates. If exposure to heat is excessive, it can also lead to heat stroke - this is because increased humidity stops sweat evaporating from the skin to cool the body. To help prevent this, acclimatise yourself to hot weather slowly by spending gradually longer periods of time in the heat, before returning to cooler shade - full acclimatisation can take up to three weeks. Avoid strenuous exercise, wear loose, lightweight clothes, and drink plenty of fluids. Cool off in a shower whenever possible.
However, even water intake requires moderation: recent media reports have focussed on people who have drunk too much water, which can overwhelm the kidneys and lead to swelling of the brain. Water intoxication can cause symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and, in extreme cases, can lead to coma and death, although this is rare. Certain drugs, including illegal ones such as ecstasy, can trigger drinking excessive amounts of water. It can also be caused by health conditions that affect water balance, such as kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and uncontrolled diabetes. Drinking excessive amounts of water can also have a psychological cause when it is known as psychogenic polydipsia.
Most people will come to no harm if they stick to drinking two to three litres of fluid per day. If you are concerned about your fluid intake, seek medical advice.
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