Everyone needs water and electrolytes (minerals, such as sodium and potassium, that help with many body functions) to be healthy. Normally, your body automatically balances your level of water and electrolytes. Drinking gives you what you need, and being thirsty tells you when you need to drink. Your kidneys automatically pee out extra water as urine.
What is overhydration?
Overhydration is having too much water in your body. This happens when your body takes in more water than it puts out.
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In a healthy person, drinking extra water is unlikely to cause overhydration because whatever isn't needed goes out in the urine
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Usually, overhydration happens when your kidneys aren’t able to pee out extra water
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Extra fluid may give you swollen legs or have trouble breathing
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Overhydration affects the balance of electrolytes in your body, which can cause symptoms such as confusion or seizures
What causes overhydration?
Normally, your body automatically balances the amount of water and electrolytes it has. If you have too much water, your brain signals your kidneys to make more urine.
The two main causes of overhydration include:
Medical problems that could keep your kidneys from getting rid of extra water include:
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Certain kidney problems such as kidney failure and nephrotic syndrome
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Liver problems such as cirrhosis
People don't usually drink way too much water, but this can happen when:
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Athletes drink more than they need because they don't want to get dehydrated
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People have a mental problem that causes them to drink too much water
