The body needs water to function effectively but that isn’t good enough reason for you to drink too much water because it’s as dangerous as drinking too little water. This was revealed in a study published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.
“Our major goal was to re-educate the public on the hazards of drinking beyond thirst during exercise,” study lead author Dr Tamara Hew-Butler, an exercise science professor at Oakland University said.
“Every single EAH (exercise-associated hyponatremia) death is tragic and preventable, if we just listen to our bodies and let go of the pervasive advice that if a little is good, then more must be better.”
According to the researchers, drinking too much water or sports drink during a physical activity can lead to death, a condition known as exercise-associated hyponatremia.
Exercise-associated hyponatremia is a condition that occurs when the kidneys become overwhelmed by the large quantity of liquid it’s forced to process. The body’s naturally occurring sodium can’t keep up with the amount of water, leading to swelling in the cells and in severe cases, death.
Some common symptoms of EAH include lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, puffiness and weight gain during a physical activity. Vomiting, headaches, confusion, agitation, delirium, seizures and comas can occur in severe cases and this can be life-threatening, according to Medical Daily.
People who are in physically challenging events like marathons, triathlons, military exercises, hiking, football, and yoga.
Phil