It is a well-known postulate that too much of a good thing
can trigger adverse effects. Research
has pinpointed severe health hazards associated with overhydration, following several cases of harmful health effects
and even death in athletes. This
condition, coined exercise-associatedhyponatremia (EAH), occurs when the proportion of water to salt in the body
becomes too large. Mitchell Rosner, a
kidney specialist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, stated, "When the salt level in the blood falls too low, it leads to significant neurological problems and can be fatal." Symptoms can begin with nausea and headaches, and if left untouched may lead to seizures, severe confusion, and coma. The primary reason for this is the misconception that drinking more water than needed will have no harmful affects, can hold off dehydration for a longer amount of time, and may even improve performance.
There
is no denying water is a vital part of our diet and has many health benefits,
so how do we know when we have reached too much? Rosner advises that the best
way to prevent EAH as well as dehydration is to “[allow] your body to tell you
when you need a drink.” In other words, drink when you are thirsty, not to improve
performance.
