From controlling body temperature and flushing out toxins, adequate hydration plays a vital role in our general health and well-being, water is a life essential. However, while dehydration garners significant attention, overhydration, or drinking excessive amounts of water, is a condition that can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences.

Although it may sound bizarre since drinking water is said to be the solution for most health related problems it is important to recognize how much water is considered "too much" or the risks involved with being overhydrated can maintain a healthy balance.

What Is Water Intoxication?

Water intoxication, also termed hyperhydration, water poisoning or water toxemia, develops when an individual drinks much more water than the kidney can excrete. The main function of the kidneys in the human body is the processing and excretion of excess water. However, the human kidneys can process only up to 0.8 to 1.0 liters of water at a time. Drinking an amount that exceeds this may overwhelm the kidneys and put the electrolyte balance out of sync in the human body.

Electrolytes, especially sodium, are essential in maintaining fluid balance within and outside cells. Hyponatremia is the condition when sodium levels fall below 135 mmol/L, resulting from excessive water intake. This causes water to shift into cells, swelling them. In the brain, this can cause severe complications, including coma or even death.

Symptoms of Water Intoxication

The symptoms of water intoxication vary from mild to severe. Early symptoms are often similar to dehydration, which makes self-diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle cramps or weakness
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Confusion and disorientation

In more serious cases, water intoxication can cause seizures, loss of consciousness, or swelling in the brain. These complications can be fatal if left untreated.

A notable case occurred in 2007 when a woman participating in a water-drinking contest tragically died after consuming nearly two gallons of water in under two hours. More recently, actress Brooke Shields experienced a grand mal seizure attributed to excessive water consumption.

Causes of Water Intoxication

Water intoxication is rare, but certain scenarios can increase the risk:

1. Sporting Events and Endurance Training

These endurance athletes are prone to water intoxication, especially if they drink large amounts of water without replacing lost electrolytes. Hyponatremia usually happens during long races or marathons as individuals mistake fatigue and muscle cramps for dehydration and continue drinking water in excess.

2. Military Training

Overhydration among military personnel is usually due to severe physical activity in extreme environmental conditions. The total number of hyponatremia cases documented from 2007 through 2022 for the active duty in the United States exceeds 1,600, with a note to this problem on exertion-related overhydration.

3. Mental Health Conditions

Compulsive water drinking, known as psychogenic polydipsia, is linked with some mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and psychosis. People with these conditions tend to drink too much water, causing a hazardous electrolyte imbalance.

4. Drug Abuse

Drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) raise the body temperature and make people thirsty, and at times, some people tend to drink excess water at events like music festivals. MDMA also leads to urine retention, thus exacerbating the dangers of water intoxication.

How Much Water Is Too Much?

The exact amount of water that causes intoxication varies from one person to another. However, drinking more than 1 liter of water per hour for several hours raises the risk. For healthy individuals, the risk of overhydration is low unless taking part in extreme physical activity or ignoring thirst cues.

Certain medical conditions, such as kidney or liver disorders, can impair the body's ability to process fluids, and even moderate water intake may be harmful. Similarly, certain medications, such as diuretics and antipsychotics, can affect the perception of thirst or fluid regulation.

How Much Water Is Enough?

The widely touted recommendation of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day has little basis in fact. According to the National Academy of Medicine, a daily total fluid intake is about 15 cups (3.7 liters) for males and 11 cups (2.7 liters) for females, from beverage sources and from food. Usually, about 20 percent of daily hydration comes from foods such as fruits and vegetables.

A better rule of thumb is to listen to your body and drink water based on thirst. Use the color of your urine as an indicator:

• Light yellow urine indicates proper hydration.
• Dark yellow urine may indicate dehydration.

Older adults, whose thirst mechanisms may decline with age, should be proactive about maintaining hydration, especially during illness or hot weather.

Water Intoxication vs. Dehydration

The symptoms of water intoxication—such as headaches, fatigue, and muscle weakness—are similar to those of dehydration. If you are unsure which condition you are experiencing, seek medical attention immediately rather than self-treating with more water.

Preventing Water Intoxication

To avoid the dangers of overhydration:

• Drink water gradually throughout the day rather than consuming large amounts at once.
• Replace lost electrolytes post high-intensity exercise or heavy sweating.
• Consider using sports drinks or salty snacks to help replenish sodium.
• Keep track of fluid consumption during long-duration activities, and do not consume more water than the body is losing in terms of electrolytes.
• If on medications or have specific medical conditions, check with your doctor regarding the safety of drinking water.

For signs of severe water intoxication-including confusion, drowsiness, seizures, and loss of consciousness-customer is advised to seek medical assistance immediately. In the meanwhile, a salty snack would help to temporarily correct low sodium levels.

Hydration is important to health, but overhydration can be a serious risk; the secret is in finding a balance. Drink enough water to satisfy your body, but not so much that it overwhelms your system. Remember, water is life, but moderation keeps it that way.

Hyponatremia (low sodium level in the blood). National Kidney Foundation. 2023.

Water Toxicity. NIH. 2023

Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia: 2017 Update. Front Med (Lausanne). 2017

Update: Exertional Hyponatremia Among Active Component Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, 2007–2022

As 2025 comes to an end, one thing is clear, this year has been a year of remarkable shifts in how we understand health. This year, there have been breakthroughs, redesigns, and achievements in the healthcare sector, which has changed many lives. Scientists and doctors have pushed their boundaries in ways to save lives, make patients more comfortable and Health and Me lists down 5 such breakthroughs that defined the year 2025.

Reinventing Speculum: The Flower That May Transform Pelvic Exams

Few medical tools have stayed as frozen in time as the vaginal speculum. Cold, metallic, and intimidating, its origin traces back to Dr. James Marion Sims in the mid-19th century, during experiments carried out unethically on enslaved women. Beyond its history, patients have long reported pain, anxiety, and emotional distress linked to it. But this year, a young design team dared to ask what would happen if pelvic exams could feel safe.

Enter Lilium, a flower-inspired speculum created by Delft University engineers Tamara Hoveling and Ariadna Izcara Gual. Made with soft plastic and shaped to bloom like a lily, it opens gently, eliminates the harsh clicking sound, and uses a tampon-like applicator for insertion. Designed to feel familiar and symbolically comforting, Lilium represents a shift toward trauma-informed, patient-first gynecological care—something long overdue.

Zaynich: India Launches Its First New Antibiotic in 30+ Years

For 28-year-old Sahil Mehra from Mumbai, a severe, drug-resistant Pseudomonas infection left his kidneys failing and his doctors nearly out of options. Even last-resort antibiotics couldn’t stop the superbug.

Then came Zaynich, India’s first new antibiotic in more than three decades. Developed by Wockhardt, it combines cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, with zidebactam, a novel β-lactam enhancer that boosts the drug’s power against tough bacteria. Early reports and trials suggest a 97% effectiveness against drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and even a 20% higher cure rate than meropenem in Phase 3 studies. Within four days of receiving Zaynich, Mehra’s condition stabilized—a reminder of why antibiotic innovation is essential in the age of superbugs.

A Powerful Cholesterol-Lowering Pill Could Change Heart Care

High LDL cholesterol remains one of the biggest drivers of cardiovascular disease. While statins help, many people never reach target levels. Injectable PCSK9 inhibitors work well but remain expensive and less accessible.

This year, an experimental daily pill—enlicitide—showed promise of changing that equation. In the Phase 3 CORALreef Lipids trial involving 2,912 adults, enlicitide reduced LDL-C levels by 55.8% at 24 weeks, with post-hoc analysis suggesting reductions up to 59.7%. With a safety profile similar to placebo, enlicitide could become the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor to make potent cholesterol control easier and more widely available.

Zombie Cell: A Longevity Pill From China Claims Life Up to 150 Years

A Shenzhen-based biotech company sparked global debate by claiming it has developed a pill that targets ageing at the cellular level. The pill focuses on clearing “zombie cells”—old cells that refuse to die and trigger inflammation. Made with compounds derived from grape seeds, early animal lab work suggests potential lifespan extension. While far from proven in humans, the idea that such a pill could stretch life to 120–150 years captured the world’s imagination and intensified conversations around longevity science.

The World’s First Single-Dose Dengue Vaccine Gets Approved

With dengue cases hitting record levels globally, Brazil approved the world’s first single-dose dengue vaccine, called Butantan-DV. Developed by the Butantan Institute in collaboration with Wu Xi, it uses a live attenuated virus and is currently approved for ages 12 to 59. Until now, the only dengue vaccine required two doses months apart. This single-shot version could transform dengue prevention, especially in tropical countries facing surges linked to rising temperatures.

Recently the news of Norovirus outbreak in an AIDA cruise that has infected more than 100 guests and crew on board made news. This is the 21st outbreak, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This case has brought back memories from the Royal Caribbean Cruise outbreak, where 94 out of 1,874 and 4 crew members also were infected by Norovirus.

This virus is also known as the 'rib-cracking' winter virus, which sets it apart from rest of the winter viruses. People who have been sickened by this contagious virus are vomiting explosively, which may make the sufferers to experience a cracking in their ribs, which is where it gets its name 'rib-cracking' winter virus.

What Is Norovirus? What Makes It So Unique?

The virus typically spikes after the holidays, when families gather indoors. However, new data from the Centers for CDC shows this year’s surge has arrived weeks ahead of schedule, and experts say there’s no obvious explanation yet.

According to the CDC, 12.5 percent of norovirus tests came back positive during the week of November 22, nearly identical to the 13 percent positivity rate the week before. Compared to two weeks earlier, infections have jumped by about 25 percent. But the real number of cases is likely far higher, as most people with norovirus never get tested.

Between August 1 and November 13, health officials recorded 153 norovirus outbreaks, more than double last year’s 69 during the same period, and far above the 65 reported in 2023.

The CDC estimates the U.S. sees around 2,500 outbreaks every year. An outbreak is recorded when two or more people fall ill from a suspected or confirmed shared source.

On cruise ships, which are closely monitored by federal agencies, outbreaks have also been climbing. The AIDAdiva, a German vessel currently on a long global route, recently reported a spike in cases. In a statement to USA TODAY, AIDA Cruises said it has increased hygiene measures on board and that infections are already declining.

“Seasonal illness peaks between November and April, and the AIDAdiva report reflects what we’re seeing on land,” the cruise line said.

Why Norovirus Hits So Hard

Norovirus infects roughly 21 million Americans every year and sends about 2 million to hospitals or clinics. It spreads easily through contaminated food, surfaces, shared utensils, or direct contact with an infected person. Even a tiny amount of virus can trigger illness.

Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 48 hours and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever and chills. The biggest danger is dehydration, which can set in quickly. Severe fluid loss can lead to low blood pressure, reduced organ perfusion, electrolyte imbalances, and in extreme cases, seizures or fainting.

The virus contributes to about 900 deaths in the U.S. annually, mostly among older adults.

Doctors emphasize that hand sanitizers don’t reliably kill norovirus. Frequent handwashing with soap and water is the best protection.

The season’s lowest positivity rate was recorded in early August at 6.5 percent. But with holiday travel and gatherings underway, health officials warn infections are likely to rise.

What Are The Symptoms Of Norovirus And How Long Do They Last?

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Watery or loose diarrhea
• Feeling ill
• Low-grade fever
• Muscle pain

The symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after your first exposure to the virus and could last from 1 to 3 days. You can, however, continue to shed virus in your stool for several week after your recovery. The shedding could go up for months if you have another medical condition.

Delhi woke up again to a thick layer of smog, with Delhi's AQI hovering over 300 on the Air Quality Index on Thursday morning under "very poor" category. After a long nine-day wait, city's AQI had slipped under "poor" category on Tuesday, but it is again back on the "very poor" category, while on Wednesday, there were strong winds that dispersed the pollutants. Yet the condition of the air quality remains bad.

As a result of this many people are leaving the city, or have at least considered leaving the city.

"I Felt Breathless And Constantly Fatigued"

Nikita Singh, 31, who runs a remote PR boutique agency was living in Delhi on and off for two years because it was two years back when she struggled to breathe during Delhi winters. "The pollution levels were so extreme that I felt breathless and constantly fatigued. That was the first time I seriously questioned whether I could continue living here long-term," she says.

For the first two years, she kept "oscillating". "I would stay in Delhi for work during peak months, then leave when pollution became unbearable, especially from November to January. Every return felt heavier. I had my eyes burning, headaches, chest tightness and a general feeling of 'I cannot do this forever'."

She has now permanent moved away from Delhi to Jodhpur, in Rajasthan, where she works remotely. However, it has not been easy on her. "Emotionally, it was tough because Delhi had become familiar, and my life and work circle were mostly based there," she says. However, thanks to her fully remote work and that fact that she had decided to prioritize her health, she was able to make the move.

She says that Jodhpur offers the cleaner air which she "never felt in Delhi". Her decision to move also came with her family uprooting from Delhi. "My family and I shifted together. AQI was a major trigger. We realized we could not keep exposing ourselves to those levels of pollution year after year," she reveals.

Migration And Pollution: More Delhiites Are Considering To Move Out Of The City

She is not alone, Vikash Makkar, a freelance linguist specialist and a journalist, who had been living in Delhi from the last 12 years, moved back to his hometown in Jamshedpur. "Since October with an unplanned journey, I moved to my hometown and have been living there. It is quite relaxed here as compared to Delhi's ongoing pollution crisis that I had faced," he shares.

29-year-old Riya Baibhawi also uprooted from the city. She had been living in Delhi from last 5 years. She is currently living in Ludhiana, Punjab, and her decision to leave city is also affected by the pollution. Though, it was not easy for her. "It was very tough because it was very difficult to find career opportunities with competitive salaries outside Delhi-NCR. It also required a cut down of my social life, which adversely affected my mental health," she says. She shares that one of her friends, who had been living in Noida for the last 20 years had also moved out as pollution exacerbated her asthma.

Another family, who have been living in Delhi's Karol Bagh for more than two decades now are considering moving out of Delhi. "They are looking for properties outside Delhi where air is cleaner," shares their 26-year-old daughter who now lives in her marital home in Noida.

As per a survey by a consumer insights platform Smytten PulseAI, about 34.6% of the residents surveyed in Delhi NCR have considered to move out of the city due to worsening air. A 2023 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health shows that if the level of PM2.5 increases by 10µg/m3, migrants coming into the city will be reduced by 21.2%. While migration in the city has been ongoing, pollution does show some strains of people moving out of the city.

As per the Air Quality Life Index released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), the fine particulate matter or PM2.5 in air will shorten an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, and in Delhi, it could shorten a person's life span by 11.9 years. However, the Union government has said in the parliament that there is "no conclusive national data to establish a direct correlation between deaths or diseases occurring exclusively due to air pollution". This statement comes at a time when doctors themselves noted a surge in cases due to pollution and have urged people to leave the cities.