Can We "overdose" With Water In The Summer?
Author: Joe Fowler
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
What are the symptoms of water intoxication and why do they require medical intervention?
It is a well-known fact that for good health in the summer you need to drink more fluids and most of all: water. Two liters per day is the recommended dose for the elderly, and the amount can vary according to individual needs. However, can we "overdose" with water?
To the surprise of many, there is the term " water intoxication ". When taking too much water for short periods of time, the body's normal electrolyte balance is disturbed . This is caused by too much dilution of sodium in the blood and its faster loss through sweat and urine .
Water intoxication quickly leads to the condition " hyponatremia " or sodium deficiency and is common, especially in people who are making lifestyle changes or have recently started exercising. A 2005 study in the Journal of Medicine in New England found an impressive 13% of all runners in the summer marathon of the same year who developed hyponatremia as a result of drinking too much water after running.
Although rarely a dangerous condition, it can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, irritability, disorientation, muscle weakness, cramps, seizures, and episodes of cardiovascular disorders such as arrhythmias that require medical attention .
The signs by which hyponatremia can be recognized are clearly visible: the tissues under the eyes and around the ankles are visibly swollen and slightly painful to the touch. This is caused by water retention in them, again - caused by electrolyte imbalance.
Excessive water intoxication is also life-threatening, because similar swelling can occur in the brain tissue, where it can cause a sharp rise in intracranial pressure. This can lead to compression of important brain centers and lead not only to fainting, but even to coma or death.
In the presence of such symptoms, most common in people who have recently undergone moderate to severe physical activity, drunk with water, medical attention should be sought. Physicians may administer several types of Vaptan drugs, depending on the patient's blood volume, which are based on vasopressin receptor antagonists. Vasopressin is a hormone that has functions related to the condition of blood vessels and the volume of body fluids.
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