The key word of every season, but especially of summer, is hydration and the frequent call of doctors to consume as much water as possible. But how much water does the human body really need?
Two shocking events became media, as one woman lost her life and another was hospitalized as a result of drinking too much water.
Michelle Fairburn, a user of digital platforms, spoke in a video about her experience "75 Hard", known as the newest challenge on Tik Tok that asks people to drink approximately 3.7 liters of water per day.
According to Fairburn, she started feeling physically weak on day 12 of the challenge. "I also had burning in my stomach and pain in my back," she continued. These symptoms worried him, and Fairburn went to a doctor, who diagnosed him with "severe sodium deficiency." After Fairburn's recovery, another mother joined the challenge, but it ended tragically. Ashley Summers from Indiana, a mother of two, died of water toxicity and the case became a media event. The 35-year-old reportedly told her family that she didn't seem to be drinking enough water and ended up consuming four liters in 20 minutes.
Drinking too much water
The biggest concern with drinking too much water is developing a condition called hyponatremia, otherwise known as water intoxication. "Hyponatremia occurs when a person drinks so much water that the electrolytes in the blood are diluted," physician Natasha Trentacosta told Health magazine.
"The kidneys of a healthy person are able to regulate the water balance. But when the kidneys can't keep up with excreting water, sodium levels in the body drop, and that can be dangerous," Dr. Eric Adkins told Health.
Sodium, one of the body's main electrolytes, helps control blood pressure, nerves and muscles. It plays a crucial role in balancing body fluids. If sodium levels fall below 135 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), extra water can enter the cells and cause swelling, which is life-threatening.
Other symptoms of hyponatremia
- Irritation or restlessness
-Headache
-Loss of appetite
-Muscle weakness or cramps
Treatment of "intoxication" from water
"Everything depends on the patient's condition. If doctors suspect you have a sodium deficiency, they do blood and urine tests to determine the exact levels," continued Dr. Adkins. "If it's a mild case, the kidneys help bring the balance back to normal. But doctors can give drugs or an intravenous treatment to slowly increase sodium levels in more severe cases," concluded the doctor.
