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Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM🇮🇳

Nov 24 • 9 tweets • 6 min read

Can #drinking excess amount of #water lead to death?

1. Water is life-saving and is essential for survival. However, ingestion of excess amounts of water, especially over a short period of time can lead to serious health hazards, including #death.
#MedTwitter #internalmedicine

2. How much water is needed on daily basis?

The normal daily requirement of water is 2.5 to 3 liters.
The requirement may be higher in summer months. Requirement also increases during #exercise (due to sweating), during fever, diarrhea or vomiting.

3. Why do some people drink excess amounts of water?

There is a misconception that drinking more water is good for #health.
Some people can drink more water due to #psychiatric illnesses.
#athletes can overestimate fluid loss and drink an excess amount of water.

4. How much water can be handled by a healthy person?
Healthy #kidneys can handle 800-1000 ml of water/hr.
People with kidney, heart or liver disease can handle lesser amounts of water.
If excess water intake happens rapidly (over 1-2 hours), normal kidneys cannot handle that.

5. What is the consequence of excessive water intake?
Excess water intake leads to #hyponatremia (low #sodium level in the blood).
This leads to passage of water into the brain cells, leading to brain swelling.
Symptoms depend on sodium level and extent of brain swelling.

6. What are the symptoms of water intoxication?

In mild cases, symptoms are #lethargy, nausea and dizziness.
In moderate cases, symptoms are #confusion, vomiting and agitation.
In severe cases, symptoms are #seizures, #coma and #death in some cases.

7. What is the treatment for water intoxication?
If you notice any symptoms, consult a doctor.
Check Sodium level.
Low sodium is corrected by restricting fluid intake and by saline injections.
Rapid correction of low sodium should be avoided as that can lead to brain damage.

8. Take home messages
Drinking excessive amounts of water can have deleterious effects on health.
Drinking more than normal recommended water intake has no additional health-related benefits.

#BruceLee also died of hyponatremia (low sodium) caused by excess water intake, that lead to cerebral edema (brain swelling)

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