Aquaholism
Water is a basic essential element to survive on earth. We have all been endorsed by people about the benefits of drinking water. Drinking water increases energy, boost immune system, maintains regularity and has many more advantages. More importantly it keeps us healthy and fit. Many a times we come across this saying, “too much of anything is good for nothing”. Too much of water consumption might endanger us into a life threatening issue. This looks sceptical but it is a serious problem faced by many people according to the researchers. The term aquaholism means addicted to drinking water. People addicted to water are called ‘aquaholics’.
Is drinking too much water bad for health?
Now this question keeps probing our mind. Yes, drinking excessive water leads to serious health problems says the health officials, dietitians and fitness experts. According to WHO (World Health Organization) it is advisable for a human to consume 1.5 to 2 litres of water in a day. There are many factors which influences us to drink more amount of water like exercise, environment, illness & pregnancy. We feel extremely thirsty especially after walking, running or heavy workouts. The climatic condition also has an impact on the amount of water we intake. We tend to drink more water during summer seasons because we easily get tired and drained in hot sun. There are people who has a habit of continuously drinking water without reason. They might consume more than 8 litres without consciousness which causes bodily disturbances. Such disorders are termed as ‘polydipsia’. There are 2 main symptoms of Aquaholism,
a) Hyperhidrosis
b) Insomnia
Hyperhidrosis means excessive sweating due to too much of water consumption. Due to over intake of water the body tries to drop the outrageous water as sweat. People even undergo surgery to remove the sweat glands. Another important symptom of Aquaholism is Insomnia which indicates disrupted sleep. At night, our brain releases a hormone called ADH (anti- diuretic hormone) to slow down the function of kidney to stop the feel to urinate. But drinking too much of water keeps the bladder full so, we wake up in-between the sleep to urinate.
Drinking too much of water leads to many side effects which are listed as follows;
When we drink excess of water above the normal intake level, it will reduce the concentration of salt and dilutes the blood. This results in swelling up of cells in brain which in-turn increases the pressure inside the skull causing severe headache or water intoxication. It is very important for us to note the level of water we consume every day. It is very difficult to control ourselves once we get addicted to one practice.
At this point we would be confused on how much water is good for our body. Life style and food habits plays a vital role to have a control on water intake. Drink water to quench your thirst. Don’t drink water continuously in short span of time or regularly even when you are not thirsty. If you consume foods which are rich in water content like Watermelon, Oranges then limit your water intake. When you have frequent urination problem, then do consult with the doctor to find the reason. First, check the colour of the urine. Normal colour of the urine is light straw colour. If it is darker, it shows your body is dehydrated so you should consume more water to avoid kidney problems. In case if it is very pale & almost clear then reduce drinking too much of water. So with the colour of the urine we can decide on how much water is good to consume.
Water is very important to support our body and for the proper functioning of the internal organs. Age, climate, sex, weight, height are the factors which decides on the level of water to consume. Drink water according to your physical structure and thirst. There are thousands of chemical reactions occurring inside our body. Not a single reaction is possible without water. Too much of water causes imbalance and affects the entire chemical system. Drink what is needed to your body but do not exceed and get addicted to water. Approach a Doctor if you have excessive thirst or frequent urination problem. Water is a friend for a healthy life but if you drink beyond a limit it becomes your enemy forever.