Have you ever noticed that the more water you drink, the thirstier you feel? While staying hydrated is vital, drinking too much water can actually be harmful, according to Dr. Michael Mrozinski, who recently issued a warning on TikTok about the dangers of overhydration and its impact on the body.
In his viral video, Dr. Mrozinski explains that while water is essential for proper bodily function, an imbalance can lead to a condition known as hyponatremia, or dangerously low sodium levels in the blood.
“We know that your blood needs to be not too concentrated, but not too diluted at the same time,” he said. “The way that your body regulates this is through a gland, and that tells the kidneys when to reabsorb water when you are dehydrated, or produce more urine when you are overhydrated.”
When you consume excessive amounts of water, your pituitary gland signals the kidneys to flush it out. “That’s fine—you’re getting rid of the water,” Dr. Mrozinski added. “But we know that sodium follows water, and that’s an important electrolyte in your body. If you lose too much of it, you become what is called hyponatremic.”
Hyponatremia can lead to a condition known as primary polydipsia, which causes extreme thirst. “So essentially, you enter a cycle where you drink more water because you’re thirsty, you pee it all out, you lose more sodium, and then you end up drinking even more water,” he said.
Dr. Mrozinski warned that if left unchecked, this condition could result in severe symptoms, including dizziness, confusion, and even seizures. “Hyponatremia in extreme forms can lead to seizures,” he said. “It can lead to you just feeling not quite right, it can make you feel very dizzy, and the only way to cure and treat this is to restrict your fluid intake.”
His video struck a chord with viewers, some of whom shared personal experiences. “This had happened to me before, and I had to stay in the hospital for a bit,” one TikTok user commented. Another admitted, “I always forget to drink until I have a headache and feel horrible, then I’m like ‘oh I need water’. I try so hard to remember to drink.”
According to Healthline, symptoms of low sodium can be subtle at first if levels drop slowly, but become more severe when they fall rapidly. Common symptoms include weakness, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, confusion, and irritability.
Experts advise anyone concerned about hydration or electrolyte balance to consult their doctor, especially those with underlying health conditions or those taking medications that may affect sodium retention.