A 25-year-old marketing executive in New Delhi collapsed after drinking five litres of water in a single day to ward off the summer heat. Having travelled across the city while drinking bottled water throughout the day, the executive lost consciousness upon returning to his office and required emergency hospitalisation.
Did drinking excessive water lead to the collapse?
Medical experts always urge us to stay hydrated in the heat. But in this case, dehydration wasn't the problem—water was.
According to doctors, the young man suffered from hyponatremia or water intoxication, a condition where sodium levels in the blood are too low, causing water to shift into cells, leading to swelling.
Having skipped breakfast and consumed only a salt-free lunch, the patient was already low on electrolytes. The significant amount of sodium lost through profuse sweating was then further diluted by the large volume of water he consumed, leading to a critical imbalance.
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When sodium levels crash, cells (including brain cells) begin to absorb excess water and swell. This can lead to brain injury or even death as the brain expands against the skull.
What causes water intoxication?
*Excessive intake of water: Consuming more than the kidneys can process
*Endurance sports: Replacing sweat with only water and a lack of electrolyte consumption
*Psychogenic Polydipsia: A mental condition leading to compulsive water drinking
* Certain medical conditions that affect kidney functioning
Symptoms of water intoxication include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, disorientation, high blood pressure and in certain cases, it could also cause seizures.
According to experts, do not drink more than \(0.8-1\) litre of water per hour and drink to quench the thirst rather than forcing large quantities of water.