All the cells and organs in your body need water to function properly.
Water intoxication is a life-threatening disorder accompanied by brain function impairment due to severe dilutional hyponatremia. We treated a 22-year-old man without psychotic illness who had been put in a detention facility. He drank 6 liters of water over a 3-hour period at the facility as a game's penalty, and he showed progressive psychiatric and neurological signs including restlessness, peculiar behavior and convulsions. On his admission, 15 h after the discontinuation of the water drinking, he was in a coma, showing intermittent convulsions and remarkable hyponatremia (120 mmol/l). Because his laboratory tests showed hypertonic urine and normal sodium excretion, the diagnosis of secondary development of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was strongly suggested and later confirmed by the suppression of the renin-aldosterone system and the inappropriately elevated secretion of ADH. Saline infusion and an initial administration of furosemide in addition to dexamethasone as treatments for the patient's brain edema successfully improved his laboratory data and clinical signs by the 3rd hospital day, and he was returned to the facility without physical or psychiatric abnormalities on the 6th day. The secondary SIADH might have been due to the prolonged emesis, recurrent convulsions and rapid elevation of intracranial pressure.
Severe cases can produce more serious symptoms, such as:
In severe cases, water intoxication can cause seizures, brain damage, coma and even death (1).
Bottom line: Drinking too much water increases pressure inside the skull. This can cause various symptoms and even be fatal in severe cases.
Be safe and follow the timing of Water Cure Protocol Formula, which allow you to drink only 10% of your daily water quota, per dose, every 90 minutes interval, with a pinch of rock/sea salt melted on the tongue first. Your daily water quota is 32.53 times your current body weight (in kilogram).
Many water intoxication cases have been reported in soldiers (3, 4).
One report concerned 17 soldiers who developed hyponatremia as a result of excess water intake. Their blood sodium levels ranged from 115 to 130 mmol/L, but the normal range is 135-145 mmol/L (4).
Another report described how three soldiers died due to hyponatremia and cerebral edema. These deaths were associated with drinking 2.5-5.6 gallons (10-20 liters) of water in just a few hours (5).
The symptoms of hyponatremia can be misinterpreted as those of dehydration. One soldier, who was misdiagnosed as suffering from dehydration and heat stroke, died from water intoxication as the result of repeated oral hydration (3).
Water intoxication also occurs during sports, especially endurance sports. Over-hydration is common in these activities as a means to avoid dehydration.
For this reason, hyponatremia often occurs during major sporting events (6, 7).
At the 2002 Boston Marathon, 13% of participants had hyponatremia symptoms. 0.06% showed critical hyponatremia, with sodium levels less than 120 mmol/L (8).
Unfortunately, some instances of water intoxication at these sports events have resulted in deaths.
One case involved a runner after a marathon. Tests revealed that his sodium levels were less than 130 mmol/L. He developed hydrocephalus and brain stem herniation, which caused his death (9).
Excessive water drinking can also occur in psychiatric patients, especially schizophrenics (10, 11, 12).
One study of 27 schizophrenics that had died young showed that five of them died due to self-induced water intoxication (13).
Bottom line: Water intoxication is most common among soldiers, endurance sports athletes and schizophrenia patients. Several hyponatremia cases and deaths have been reported in these populations.
But the amount of water isn't the only factor. How long you take to drink the water also counts.
You have a greater risk of developing water intoxication if you drink a lot of water in a short period of time. The risk is less if you drink the same amount over a much longer period of time.
Symptoms of hyponatremia can occur from as little as 0.8-1 gallons (3-4 liters) of water in a short amount of time (14).
Your kidneys can eliminate about 5.3-7.4 gallons (20-28 liters) of water a day, but they can't get rid of more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) per hour (14, 15).
Therefore, in order to avoid hyponatremia symptoms, you should not drink more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) of water per hour, on average (14).
Many reported cases of water intoxication result from drinking large amounts of water in a short period of time.
For example, one report describes soldiers who developed symptoms after consuming half a gallon of water (1.8 liters or more) per hour (4).
Another report shows the development of hyponatremia with water intake of 2.5-5.6 gallons, or 10-20 liters, in just a few hours (5).
A case of water intoxication and prolonged hyponatremia also occurred in a healthy, 22-year-old male prisoner after he drank 1.5 gallons (6 liters) of water in 3 hours (1).
Finally, a 9-year old girl who drank almost a gallon (a total of 3.6 liters) of water in 1-2 hours developed water intoxication (14).
Bottom line: The kidneys are capable of excreting up to 7 gallons (28 liters) of fluid per day. However, they cannot excrete more than 1 liter per hour. Therefore, drinking more than this is not a good idea.
To determine how much you need, consider your body weight, physical activity level and climate.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests the adequate water intake per day for men is 125 ounces (3.7 liters), while for women it is 91 ounces (2.7 liters).
However, these recommendations include water from beverages and foods (16).
Some people still follow the 8 x 8 rule, which recommends drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. However, this rule is mostly arbitrary and not based on research (17, 18).
A good rule of thumb is to listen to your body and drink when you feel thirsty. This should be enough to maintain good hydration levels.
However, relying on thirst alone may not work for everyone. Athletes, older adults and pregnant women may need to drink some extra water each day. When you first feel thirsty, your body is already 2% dehydrated. So, drink water to prevent the onset of dehydration, not when your feel thirsty sensation. For some people, their thirst sensation is turned "off" by the body overtime.
A case of water intoxication with prolonged hyponatremia caused by excessive water drinking and secondary SIADH.
Yamashiro M1, Hasegawa H2, Matsuda A2, Kinoshita M3, Matsumura O4, Isoda K2, Mitarai T2.
Author information
Abstract
KEYWORDS:
Free water clearance; Hyponatremia; SIADH; Water intoxication.
Also known as water poisoning, water intoxication is the disruption of brain function due to drinking too much water (1).
Drinking a lot of water increases the amount of water in your blood.
This water can dilute the electrolytes in your blood, especially sodium. When sodium levels fall below 135 mmol/L, it is called hyponatremia.
Sodium helps balance fluids between the inside and outside of cells.
When sodium levels drop due to excess water consumption, fluids shifts from the outside to the inside of cells, causing them to swell (2).
When this happens to brain cells, it can produce dangerous and potentially life-threatening effects.
Bottom line: Water intoxication results from drinking too much water. The excess water dilutes blood sodium levels and causes fluids to move inside cells, which then swell.
Dangers of drinking too much water in a short time
Water intoxication results from the swelling of cells.
When brain cells swell, pressure inside the skull increases. This pressure causes the first symptoms of water intoxication, which include:
When brain cells swell, pressure inside the skull increases. This pressure causes the first symptoms of water intoxication, which include:
- Headache.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Confusion.
- Double vision.
- Drowsiness.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Muscle weakness and cramping.
- Inability to identify sensory information.
In severe cases, water intoxication can cause seizures, brain damage, coma and even death (1).
Bottom line: Drinking too much water increases pressure inside the skull. This can cause various symptoms and even be fatal in severe cases.
Be safe and follow the timing of Water Cure Protocol Formula, which allow you to drink only 10% of your daily water quota, per dose, every 90 minutes interval, with a pinch of rock/sea salt melted on the tongue first. Your daily water quota is 32.53 times your current body weight (in kilogram).
Can it be fatal?
It's very difficult to consume too much water by accident, yet there have been reported cases of deaths due to this condition.Many water intoxication cases have been reported in soldiers (3, 4).
One report concerned 17 soldiers who developed hyponatremia as a result of excess water intake. Their blood sodium levels ranged from 115 to 130 mmol/L, but the normal range is 135-145 mmol/L (4).
Another report described how three soldiers died due to hyponatremia and cerebral edema. These deaths were associated with drinking 2.5-5.6 gallons (10-20 liters) of water in just a few hours (5).
The symptoms of hyponatremia can be misinterpreted as those of dehydration. One soldier, who was misdiagnosed as suffering from dehydration and heat stroke, died from water intoxication as the result of repeated oral hydration (3).
Water intoxication also occurs during sports, especially endurance sports. Over-hydration is common in these activities as a means to avoid dehydration.
For this reason, hyponatremia often occurs during major sporting events (6, 7).
At the 2002 Boston Marathon, 13% of participants had hyponatremia symptoms. 0.06% showed critical hyponatremia, with sodium levels less than 120 mmol/L (8).
Unfortunately, some instances of water intoxication at these sports events have resulted in deaths.
One case involved a runner after a marathon. Tests revealed that his sodium levels were less than 130 mmol/L. He developed hydrocephalus and brain stem herniation, which caused his death (9).
Excessive water drinking can also occur in psychiatric patients, especially schizophrenics (10, 11, 12).
One study of 27 schizophrenics that had died young showed that five of them died due to self-induced water intoxication (13).
Bottom line: Water intoxication is most common among soldiers, endurance sports athletes and schizophrenia patients. Several hyponatremia cases and deaths have been reported in these populations.
How much is too much?
Over-hydration and water intoxication happens when you drink more water than your kidneys can get rid of via urine.You have a greater risk of developing water intoxication if you drink a lot of water in a short period of time. The risk is less if you drink the same amount over a much longer period of time.
Symptoms of hyponatremia can occur from as little as 0.8-1 gallons (3-4 liters) of water in a short amount of time (14).
Your kidneys can eliminate about 5.3-7.4 gallons (20-28 liters) of water a day, but they can't get rid of more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) per hour (14, 15).
Therefore, in order to avoid hyponatremia symptoms, you should not drink more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) of water per hour, on average (14).
Many reported cases of water intoxication result from drinking large amounts of water in a short period of time.
For example, one report describes soldiers who developed symptoms after consuming half a gallon of water (1.8 liters or more) per hour (4).
Another report shows the development of hyponatremia with water intake of 2.5-5.6 gallons, or 10-20 liters, in just a few hours (5).
A case of water intoxication and prolonged hyponatremia also occurred in a healthy, 22-year-old male prisoner after he drank 1.5 gallons (6 liters) of water in 3 hours (1).
Finally, a 9-year old girl who drank almost a gallon (a total of 3.6 liters) of water in 1-2 hours developed water intoxication (14).
Bottom line: The kidneys are capable of excreting up to 7 gallons (28 liters) of fluid per day. However, they cannot excrete more than 1 liter per hour. Therefore, drinking more than this is not a good idea.
How much water do you need?
There is no specific number for how much water you actually need to drink a day. It differs for each individual.To determine how much you need, consider your body weight, physical activity level and climate.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests the adequate water intake per day for men is 125 ounces (3.7 liters), while for women it is 91 ounces (2.7 liters).
However, these recommendations include water from beverages and foods (16).
Some people still follow the 8 x 8 rule, which recommends drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. However, this rule is mostly arbitrary and not based on research (17, 18).
A good rule of thumb is to listen to your body and drink when you feel thirsty. This should be enough to maintain good hydration levels.
However, relying on thirst alone may not work for everyone. Athletes, older adults and pregnant women may need to drink some extra water each day. When you first feel thirsty, your body is already 2% dehydrated. So, drink water to prevent the onset of dehydration, not when your feel thirsty sensation. For some people, their thirst sensation is turned "off" by the body overtime.
No comments:
Post a Comment