Drinking water benefits your body in many ways. For example, water aids the fluid circulation in the body, the proper digestion of food, and accelerating and discharging metabolic waste, to name a few. However, drinking excess water can cause problems.
In some cultures, water is always boiled to kill any bacteria, thus making it suitable for children and the elderly to consume.
The temperature of your stomach is around 98.6°F, so when you drink cold water, this alters the stomach’s ability to digest food and drink properly. Also, drinking too hot water may damage the oral and gastric mucosa and may induce cancer.
Current health trends advocate drinking eight glasses of water per day. However, according to traditional Chinese medicine, ingesting this quantity of water may be detrimental to individuals with certain predisposed health issues. In such cases, it is wise to seek medical advice.
6 health issues adversely affected by drinking excess water
1. High blood sugar
It is not recommended for people diagnosed with high blood sugar levels to drink too much water. Some people may have a misguided view that drinking more water will effectively reduce their blood sugar levels. Instead, what may transpire is an increased burden on their body, leading to edema. It is better to keep hydrated in line with your circumstances.
2. Heart problems
People with heart diseases, such as myocardial atrophy and heart failure, need to avoid drinking excess water in order to prevent water from accumulating in the body, thus creating pressure on the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. In severe cases, it may lead to suffocation or heart failure. So this situation should not be taken lightly.
3. Liver disease
Patients with liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis or liver ascites, must control the amount of water they ingest daily. Drinking excess water will quickly lead to an accumulation of water within the abdomen, thus affecting the circulation of their bodily fluids.
4. Poor kidney function
One function that the kidneys perform within the body is detoxification, removing toxins and waste products from the body. About one-quarter of the waste produced in our body needs to be excreted daily by the kidneys in the form of urine. Therefore, healthy people are advised to drink more water to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
Note, however, that it is not suitable for people with poor kidney function to drink excess water in a short period as this will further burden the kidneys and worsen their disease.
5. Sedentary lifestyle
People tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle, and long-term sitting can easily lead to swelling of the lower limbs and in severe cases will lead to the formation of blood clots. So even if you drink more water when you are sedentary for a long time, it may still make the blood circulation poorer exacerbate any numbness, swelling, and pain of the lower limbs.
On the other hand, if you drink less water while being sedentary for a long time, this can cause the blood to become more viscous and aid in the formation of kidney stones. How do you prevent this occurrence? You should get up and exercise regularly, and drink plenty of water while exercising.
6. Profuse sweating
When the human body sweats a lot, the body loses lots of electrolytes and water. In this case, if you drink too much water at one time, the sodium in the blood will be rapidly metabolized out of the body, which may cause dizziness, rapid heartbeat, etc. In severe cases, it will produce shock and even water intoxication leading to organ failure. So when you sweat a lot, it is better to drink water in moderation or drink mineral water.
The writer of this story is not a medical professional, and the information in this story has been collected from reliable sources — every precaution has been taken to ensure its accuracy. The information provided is for general information purposes only and should not be substituted for professional health care.
