Could Drinking Lots of Water Be Hurting You?
The other night when I woke up for the third time to use the bathroom (in a period of less than eight hours, mind you), I started wondering if maybe I'd taken this hydration thing to the extreme. Once a night was understandable, normal even, I learned from talking to others, who experienced the same nightly call to relieve themselves.
But on a recent night, when I awoke with the urge at 5:15 am, just an hour and fifteen minutes before my alarm was set to go off, I couldn't fall back asleep! I tossed and turned upon my return from the bathroom, but it was a futile situation. Precious sleep was lost, and suddenly my busy day ahead loomed with a menace. All because of a stupid bathroom break!
We've long known that we're supposed to drink approximately eight glasses of water a day--that's 64 ounces if one glass equals eight ounces, although the latest on the the Mayo Clinic's website says women should be consuming nine glasses worth (this includes food and beverage, since things like apples and lettuces contain water). Either way, a lot of us probably consume way more than the recommended amount.
We drink water because it's easy, free (depending on the cleanliness and taste of the water where you live) and is said to zap sluggish feelings. Need a little energy? Drink water. Don't want to fill up on party appetizers? Drink a couple of glasses of water before you go.
Dr. Leigh Vinocur on Dr. Oz says that "healthy people can let thirst be their guide to their fluid requirements," in which case, I am not drinking too much H2O by scientific standards, since I basically drink when I'm thirsty. Vinocur also points out the obvious way of telling if you're getting enough of the stuff: look at your pee. It should be pretty clear and not bright or dark yellow, which is a sign of dehydration. The color of your urine, unfortunately, won't indicate if you're drinking too much, however.
While there have been a couple of reported deaths related to overconsuming water, you'd have to drink A LOT, and I mean A LOT to develop hyponatremia, which is dilution of the blood caused by drinking too much water (which can lead to water intoxication). Scientific American discusses a couple of cases of water-related death, but for the large majority of us, overconsumption is not something we need to fret over. Lost sleep due to frequent bathroom trips, on the other hand, can lead to stress and anxiety during the day.
If you're like me and find yourself increasingly annoyed at your body's inability to make it through the night, perhaps it's as simple as cutting out all liquids after a certain time in the evening, say three hours before you hit the hay. Just as eating a big meal too late at night can have the effect of disturbing one's sleep, so too, apparently, does drinking some of the best stuff on earth right before bed.
By Stacey Gawronski
Want more health and fitness from Elizabeth Street?
These Online Exercise Classes Bring the Gym to You
Workout Videos to Whip You Into Shape
The Best Arm Exercises for Women
