How much water should you drink per day?

It is generally recommended to drink at least 8 cups (64 ounces) of water per day to maintain proper hydration. However, the exact amount of water that a person needs to drink can vary depending on factors such as their age, gender, weight, and level of physical activity. For example, people who are more physically active or live in hot climates may need to drink more water to compensate for the fluid loss that occurs through sweating. It is also important to pay attention to your body’s thirst signals and drink water when you are thirsty. If you are unsure about how much water you should be drinking, you can talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian for personalized recommendations.

Patients get hospitalized due to drinking excessive water:

Drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia. This occurs when the level of salt in your body becomes too diluted. Symptoms of hyponatremia can include nausea, headache, cramps, fatigue, and seizures. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening. It is important to drink enough water to stay hydrated, but it is also important to balance your water intake with the amount of salt in your diet and to drink according to your body’s needs.

Shortness of breath can be caused by Fluid overload, also known as hypervolemia, is a condition in which there is too much fluid in the body. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including drinking too much water in patients with kidney problems, heart failure, and liver failure. Water first accumulates in the legs and then gradually accumulates in the upper body until it fills up the lungs causing shortness of breath.

We see a lot of patients get admitted to the hospital with above two problems-hyponatremia and shortness of breath.

Everyone is told to drink a lot of water, but it does not hold good once a patient starts having complications like leg swelling, shortness of breath and issues related to low Sodium levels. Once they develop these complications, they should stop drinking water excessively.