Talking about hyperhydration is referring to a term that is not very widespread, not even among doctors. At the other extreme, dehydration is a well-known condition.
Well, overhydration is the opposite of dehydration. It is also defined as intoxication with water, as if it were a poison. And is that any substance in excess becomes toxic to the body.
Although it is a rare, infrequent disorder, it can occur among long-distance runners and patients with kidney problems. In people with good kidney function, it is very difficult to achieve this state, as filtration and urine production prevent it.
In numerical and quantitative terms, in a healthy adult it would be necessary to exceed 24 liters of water intake per day so that the kidneys are overwhelmed in their capacity. As we can imagine, under normal conditions, it is strange.
Causes of the disorder
As we have already anticipated, there are specific situations that favor hyperhydration. One of these situations is the practice of sport ultra resistanceLike marathons, for example. Athletes over-hydrate out of fear of dehydration, and this can lead to excess filtration levels in the face of the kidneys which change their physiology for sport.
There is a psychiatric condition called psychogenic polydipsia, in which the person ingests water all the time, motivated by unfounded fears. They constitute another risk group for overhydration, especially in times of acute crisis.
Renal patients are prone to overhydration due to malfunctioning urine filtration. Even with controlled intake, imbalance of the kidney glomeruli can lead to internal water accumulation.
Finally, we will mention the inappropriate secretion of vasopressin. Also called Antidiuretic hormoneit is a substance that the pituitary gland makes to stop urine production when needed. If vasopressin is plentiful, the order to the kidneys is to retain water.
Symptoms of overhydration
In a state of water intoxication, the cells of all organs begin to accumulate extra fluid inside. There is cellular inflammation that doesn’t happen in the classic way.
When neurons are those that are inflamed by water, intracranial pressure rises and all structures of the brain press against each other and against the bones of the skull. This will generate from headaches to neurological disorders.
Many times, increasing the volume of water dilutes electrolytes in the blood, such as sodium and potassium. You enter states of hypokalemia and hyponatremia, with the consequent effect on muscle metabolism. There are cramps in the limbs and extreme fatigue.
If hypokalaemia is prolonged, low levels of potassium in the blood prevent the heart muscle from contracting efficiently. Heart failure appears immediately, blood flow decreases, and arrhythmia can occur.
In extreme situations, the evolution goes from delusions, hallucinations and convulsions, to coma and death. Death is explained by heart failure or intracranial pressure on the respiratory bulbs.
Some Education they detected it a sore throat is an initial symptom of overhydration. This is because the brain, registering the increase in the volume of internal water, generates a sensation of a closed throat when drinking.
Scientific studies have verified that the throat tends to close when overhydration begins.
Types of overhydration
We can suffer from two forms of overhydration: hypotonic and isotonic. In the former, the amount of fluid in the body increases, but electrolytes do not accompany it in its increase. In the second, sodium increases along with the extra water.
Hypotonic overhydration owes its symptoms to dilution of sodium and potassium. When it appears, the group that manifests it most is renal insufficiency. In healthy individuals this form is very rare.
To treat hypotonic overhydration, the body needs to supply the missing electrolytes to compensate for the dilution, while simultaneously stimulating the urine. Therefore, it must be performed in a controlled environment, intravenously, under medical supervision.
In the other case, that of isotonic hyperhydration, the key symptom is edema. People see inflamed lower limbs and, in the case of hypertensives, blood pressure values ​​rise above the norm persistently.
Because isotonic overhydration responds to other underlying diseases, treatment should focus on them. Also it is essential to limit the intake of sodium with food to allow the kidneys to eliminate the excess.
Overhydration can be prevented
Even in cases caused by underlying chronic diseases, symptoms can be prevented from appearing. Strict renal control and adequate water intake are sufficient.
If, despite everything, overhydration becomes evident, doctors will take care of correcting the disorder. Handling of electrolytes must be careful so as not to cause major problems.
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