A single glass of water is a symbol of simple refreshment. But how can it journey from being a refreshment to a risk? A nephrologist explains this journey, illustrating how the context and quantity of water consumption are what determine whether it is helpful or harmful.
As a refreshment, a glass of water quenches thirst. When your body signals a need for fluid, drinking water restores balance, aids digestion, and supports cellular function. In this context, it is the perfect, life-sustaining beverage.
The journey towards risk begins when that glass is not prompted by thirst. When it becomes the 15th or 20th glass of the day for a person who doesn’t need it, it is no longer a refreshment. It is a task for the kidneys.
The risk escalates as this pattern continues. With each unnecessary glass, the blood becomes slightly more dilute, and the kidneys work slightly harder. The body’s electrolyte balance is pushed further and further from its optimal state.
The final destination is reached when the dilution becomes critical, leading to hyponatremia. At this point, the water is no longer a benign fluid but an active disruptor of the body’s essential functions. This journey shows that it’s not the water itself that is the problem, but the extreme and unnecessary quantity in which it is consumed.
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