In water drinking competitions, excessive water intake can upset the electrolyte balance, causing muscle spasms and a potentially catastrophic brain disruption.
Hyponatremia develops when excessive water intake dilutes salt levels and swells cells. The swelling can induce mild to deadly symptoms, especially seizures and unconsciousness, especially in the brain.
“Your brain can only swell about 8–10% before it reaches the skull and pushes your brain stem out,” Oakland University exercise science professor Tamara Hew-Butler told RD's The Healthy.
You've probably heard to drink 8–10 cups of water daily. Experts feel that rule is overly broad.
Your daily water intake varies on your height, weight, age, activity, health, weather, etc.
Most people are unaware that dehydration and overhydration can cause headaches. When blood salt levels drop, tissues enlarge, including brain cells, which press against the skull.
If you always carry a water bottle and sip and refill it, you may be depleting your blood's salt levels, which can induce cell swelling.
Many persons with hyponatremia feel edema or coloring in their hands, lips, and feet due to low salt levels. Swelling or bloating can be modest.
With swelling in your hands, lips, and feet, you may gain weight suddenly. Due to bloodstream water retention.
If you wake up multiple times a night to urinate and don't have another concern, you may be overhydrated.
Since drinking too much water lowers electrolyte levels, muscular spasms and cramping might follow.