How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answer.
你每天应该喝多少水?这是一个简单的问题，答案却并不简单。

 Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years.

多年来，研究提出了不同的建议。

 But your individual water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.

但个人对水的需求取决于很多因素，包括你的健康状况、你的活动量以及你的居住地。

 No single formula fits everyone.

没有一个公式适合所有人。

 But knowing more about your body's needs for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.

但更多地了解你身体对液体的需求将有助于你估计每天需要喝多少水。

 Normal kidneys can release up to a quart of fluid every hour.

正常情况下，肾脏的排水能力约为每小时1夸脱（约0.946升）。

 If you drink more than that, you’ll retain the excess water in your body, which causes a condition known as hyponatremia and can be hazardous to your health.

如果水分摄入过多，就会导致多余的水分在体内，这将导致一种被称为低钠血症的情况，并可能对健康造成危害。

 Mild hyponatremia causes few symptoms, but more severe cases can lead to brain swelling and progressive neurological symptoms, including confusion, disorientation, seizures, coma and sometimes death.

轻度低钠血症引起的症状虽然不多，但严重的话可能造成脑部肿胀和进行性的神经系统症状，如精神错乱、定向障碍、癫痫、昏迷，甚至危及生命。

 For most people, drinking more than needed to maintain water balance is neither necessary nor medically helpful.

对于大多数人来说，为了维持身体水分的平衡而摄入过多水分，既没有必要，也不会有医疗上的帮助。

 According to Bruce Gordon, an expert from the World Health Organization, drinking more than 4 liters of water a day can be toxic, leading to impaired brain function or even death.

世界卫生组织专家布鲁斯•戈登称，每天每天饮用超过4升水可能会中毒，导致大脑功能受损甚至死亡。

 Normal daily intake of water depends on the level of physical activity and climate, it is recommended that men do not exceed 3.7 liters and 2.7 liters for women.

正常人每日摄入水量要根据身体活动水平和气候，建议男性不超过3.7升，女性不超过 2.7升。