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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.
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.
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:
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.
Water intoxication is rare, but certain scenarios can increase the risk:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Older adults, whose thirst mechanisms may decline with age, should be proactive about maintaining hydration, especially during illness or hot weather.
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.
To avoid the dangers of overhydration:
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
Credit: Chantelle Broadley / SWNS
Ten-year-old Myla from the UK's North Yorkshire, with severe eye strain, was diagnosed with a severe brain tumor that led to her death.
The young girl had been suffering from headaches and dizziness, which were dismissed as mere eye strain due to playing on her iPad too much.
Thinking that she needed eyeglasses, her parents took her for an eye appointment, where she was diagnosed with an aggressive diffuse midline glioma — a type of brain tumor.
Myla was diagnosed with a 7-10cm tumor and was rushed to Sheffield Children's Hospital for an operation to remove 60 per cent of the mass. The youngster underwent a grueling 30 rounds of radiotherapy but tragically passed away on January 15, The Mirror.co.uk reported.
Healthandme spoke to health experts to understand the role of eye strain and brain tumors.
The health experts noted that although prolonged exposure to digital screens can raise the risk of vision problems, they cannot cause brain tumors.
"Eye strain is most commonly linked to prolonged screen use, poor ergonomics, or uncorrected vision, and in the vast majority of cases, it is not a sign of brain cancer," Dr. Parul Maheshwari Sharma, Ophthalmologist and Principal Director & HOD - at Fortis Gurugram, told HealthandMe.
"The likelihood of experiencing eye strain being an indication of brain cancer is minimal," added Dr. Mahipal Singh Sachdev, Chairman & Medical Director, Centre For Sight Group of Eye Hospitals.
The doctors explained that brain tumors are rarely present as simple eye strain; they are usually associated with additional symptoms such as:
Eye strain, also referred to as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, is caused by staring at screens for extended periods of time and decreased blinking.
It generally occurs due to benign factors such as excessive screen time, dry eye, or uncorrected vision.
While prolonged screen use can cause discomfort, dry eyes, and temporary blurred vision, it does not lead to the development of cancer.
"There is no evidence to suggest that screen-induced eye strain can cause brain tumors," Dr Sharma said.
"Although there may be visual changes due to a tumor that involves the optic nerve or hypothalamus, simple eye strain is not indicative of brain tumors and would not be considered an early warning of a brain tumor. There is an extremely low probability that eye strain will be due to a brain tumor," Dr. Sachdev told HealthandMe.
However, the experts agreed that long screen time can lead to severe eye strain.
Brain tumors are generally attributed to genetics, exposure to radiation, or other unknown factors.
Numerous types of red flags could indicate the presence of a serious neurological disorder. Some examples include
Higher-risk patients include:
To help combat eye fatigue, individuals can adopt some simple habits, such as
Dehydration can lead to poor concentration in women. (Photo credit: iStock)
Ladies, does it ever happen to you that you are not on your period, not PMSing, and still feel moody and upset? Well, as it turns out, experts say that there could be a very simple reason for this. According to researchers at the University of Connecticut, even mild dehydration could be responsible for mood changes in women. Not only this, even 1.36 per cent dehydration can affect your mood, ability to think and energy levels. The Daily Mail notes that a loss of 1.5 per cent of normal water volume levels in the body can be classified as mild dehydration, and its adverse effects can linger for some time.
Read more: The Health Problems Women Normalise, But Gynaecologists Do Not
In women, the adverse effects of dehydration can be serious. Experts say that the effects are more intense in women, and they came to this conclusion after analysing the results of tests, which revealed that it does not matter if a person walks for 40 minutes on a treadmill or is in a state of rest — if an individual is even slightly thirsty, the adverse effects will be the same.
Research shows that even 1.36 per cent dehydration is enough to cause the following problems:
Is thirst the same as dehydration?
Lead researcher of the study, Lawrence Armstrong, noted that a sensation of thirst does not appear until a person is one or two per cent dehydrated. By then, it starts to set in and act up, adversely impacting how the mind and body perform. Dehydration can affect everyone, which is why it is just as important for people in desk jobs to stay hydrated as it is for marathon runners.
Read more: Three Health Checks Every Woman Should Do Each Month, According To Experts
In this research, experts put participants through a series of tests evaluating their concentration, vigilance, reaction time, reasoning, memory and learning. The results were then compared with those of people who were not dehydrated. In younger women, mild dehydration resulted in fatigue, headaches and concentration difficulties. Women also found basic tasks more difficult to execute than usual. On the other hand, young men noted some difficulty in performing mental tasks — they experienced anxiety, fatigue and tension in the process. Mood changes were more prominent in women than in men.
The oral microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that naturally live in the mouth — on the teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks. More than
700 species are known to exist, most of which are harmless and many beneficial.
However, problems arise when harmful bacteria outnumber protective ones, leading to gum inflammation or periodontal disease. During pregnancy, hormonal changes increase blood flow to the gums and alter immune responses. As a result, many women notice bleeding, swelling, or sensitivity in the gums — a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis.
This is common and reflects physiological changes rather than poor hygiene.
Pregnancy is a systemic state in which the immune system, circulation, and inflammation are closely interconnected. Chronic gum inflammation can release inflammatory mediators into the bloodstream.
In research settings, certain oral bacteria have also been detected in placental tissues from complicated pregnancies. This suggests a biological link between oral health and
placental function, although the exact pathways are still being studied.
Importantly, this relationship reflects association rather than direct causation.
The placenta is an active organ that regulates oxygen and nutrient transfer, hormone production, and immune protection for the developing baby.
Healthy placental development supports:
Up to 60–75 percent of pregnant women experience some degree of gum inflammation. Common changes include:
Research from India and globally shows associations between periodontal disease and higher risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia. Meta-analyses
suggest a modest increase in risk (around 1.5–2 times).
However, pregnancy complications are multifactorial. Oral disease alone does not directly cause these outcomes. Genetics, nutrition, metabolic health, and placental
biology all play important roles.
Treating gum disease improves oral health and reduces inflammation, though studies show mixed evidence on whether it directly lowers preterm birth risk. The goal is
prevention, awareness, and overall maternal health.
Daily oral care:
Pregnancy already carries emotional and physical changes, and dental symptoms can add anxiety. Support from partners and family members helps reduce mental load.
Stress can influence immunity and inflammation. Adequate rest, gentle activity such as walking or prenatal yoga, and open communication with healthcare providers
support both oral and overall health.
Seek professional advice if you notice:
Pregnancy is a time when different systems of the body work in close coordination. Oral health, immune balance, and placental function are part of the same continuum.
Gentle attention to gum health is not about perfection. It is about creating supportive conditions for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
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