By Max S. Chartrand Ph.D.
A reader question asks about the harmful effects of drinking large quantities of water daily.
Question:
Sometime back I read in your column about the health effects of chronic dehydration. I have the opposite situation. In an effort to lose body weight I drink more 2 gallons of water per day. Is this a good idea?---Mrs. B.A.
Answer:
Dear Mrs. B.A.: The human body requires a pretty well defined range of water that varies according to bodyweight and metabolic and activity level. Other factors, such as kidney function and stress factors also weigh in.
On our website www.digicare.org you'll find a scale of appropriate water intake levels that applies to most adults (look under topic: Dehydration & Hearing Health). But keep in mind that when medications and certain medical conditions enter the picture, there will be further considerations. So when one makes marked adjustments in water intake they need to communicate with their doctor to be sure it fits within their treatment regimen.
For instance, if one suffers from hyponatremia (dangerously low serum sodium levels), often a result of overhydration, they will likely need to drop to about 1 quart daily water intake for a few days to normalize their blood volume. But this, too, should be done only under the supervision of their physician.
But to answer your question in the aggregate, assuming no abnormalities, yes, 2 gallons per day is far more than one's kidneys (or lungs) can eliminate. Therefore, it would be wise to come back into the proper range of 3-4 quarts per day.
Overhydration causes such a long list of complications, and vary from person to person that it is difficult to cover them in this small space. But in general, over secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), high fluid retention, and diluted sodium are the most common problems.
These, in turn, can cause muscle weakness, mental confusion, heart failure, seizures, and even death.
On the hearing health side of things, vertigo, hyperacusis (oversensitivity to sound) and, in some cases, hypoacusis (abnormally reduced sensitivity to sound), as well as complications associated with electrolyte imbalances. Such conditions warrant attention from an otologist or ENT doctor.
Replies are for educational purposes only, and are not to be construed as medical advice or opinion.
