According to international recommendations, the recommended daily water consumption is 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters for men. While the kidneys can usually handle larger amounts of water without causing hyponatremia, or “water poisoning”, it is important to be mindful of your daily water intake and consider any underlying health conditions that may necessitate adjustments. In extreme cases, drinking over 10 to 15 liters a day can lead to neurological symptoms like confusion, headaches, inability to concentrate, convulsions, and vomiting. This condition, known as “psychogenic heavy drinking”, is usually among special populations with psychiatric disorders. Certain pathological conditions may require increased daily water intake, such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, or genetic diseases causing kidney cysts. The author of this information is Prof. Sidney Ben Shatrit, director of the nephrology and hypertension unit at the Meir Medical Center of the Klalit Group.
