There is an eating disorder called Potomanía characterized by a frequent desire to drink plenty of water compulsively and without feeling thirsty, accompanied by a pleasant feeling.
Doctors usually recommend a daily consumption of pints of water for healthy living, but if you drink more than this amount (six or seven liters per day for example), then maybe we’re talking about Potomanía.
The desire to lose kilos or quitting smoking leads many people to walk daily with a water bottle under his arm until he unknowingly can become addicted to water, the same way that bulimia is an addiction to food, without the people themselves realize.
The Potomanía or excessive water consumption for pleasure, can alter the functioning of the kidneys, the composition of blood and fluid and electrolyte balance within the body. The excess fluid can cause blood components are diluted, and there is an imbalance in the concentration of electrolytes.
If you believe or know someone showing signs of suffering from Potomanía, advise him to go to a specialist in endocrinology in order to eliminate any hormone disorder or another disease that affects the hypothalamic area, where is the center that regulates thirst.
Treatment of Potomanía depends on the underlying cause. But still and all, irrespective of the cause, points out the need to restrict fluid intake to a quart and a half daily.
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Tags: eating disorder, endocrinology, health advice, pleasant feeling, Potomanía, quitting smoking, the kidneys
