New research suggests that drinking too many fluids while exercising can be just as detrimental to your as dehydration.

Researchers at the University of Virginia found that overhydrating with water or sports drinks can lead to a condition called exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), a potentially fatal metabolic condition that occurs when the body has too much water relative to its salt level.

When the salt level in the blood falls too low, it leads to significant neurological problems and can be fatal.

"We have documented at least 14 deaths [from EAH] since 1981, including two deaths last summer in young athletes playing football," researcher Mitchell Rosner said in a statement. "The common feature in all cases is excessive water consumption during athletic events. This is driven by common misbeliefs that overhydration can improve performance and even prevent dehydration. It is worth noting that data demonstrates mild degrees of dehydration do not impair performance."

Symptoms of EAH the initial mild symptoms of EAH can include cloudy thinking, nausea and headaches. In severe cases, symptoms include seizures, severe confusion and coma.

Rosner said the key to preventing EAH is to let your body tell you when you need a drink.

"We recommend using your thirst as a guide," he said. "If you drink when thirsty, you will not become hyponatremic and you will not suffer from significant dehydration."

EAH used to occur primarily among participants in endurance sports such as marathons and triathlons, but physicians now see the condition in participants in a wider range of sports, leading to the new guidelines.

The new guidelines have been published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.