What is water intoxication

Water intoxication

The accumulation of toxins can make havoc in the body and the best solution to get rid of it is to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. When one does not consume sufficient amounts of water a day, it may have numerous consequences, including even constipation. However, drinking excessive quantities of water in a short span of time can lead to the water intoxication.

Water overdose is a life threatening condition since it leads to the significant drop in the levels of sodium, which is one of the four electrolytes found in the body. Sodium is very important for a normal functioning of the brain and the brain cells contain small amounts of it. When one is overhydrated, the brain cells become filled with excess water, which further results in their growing in size, which is known as edema in medicine. When the levels of sodium are low due to water intoxication, it is called hyponatremia.Causes of water intoxication

Water intoxication is not a common condition and we hardly ever heard of someone suffering from it. However, there are people who are predisposed to suffer from it. The people who take part in various water or juice competitions are most prone to develop this unusual condition. Water intoxication may also appear in sports people who tend to drink too much water after their strenuous trainings. Furthermore, the kidney disorders may cause bad water elimination from the body, thus leading to the water intoxication.

When it comes to the symptoms of this problem, in the beginning, the person suffering from this condition may experience nausea, headache, edema and muscle aches. Vomiting, lethargy and confusion may also appear in these initial phases of water intoxication. As the disorder progresses, the person may experience coma and sooner or later - death.

The babies may also suffer from water intoxication and in their case, it causes excessive crying, troublesome breathing and abnormal heartbeat.

Water intoxication deaths

Taking part in water drinking competitions is the main culprit for the occurrence of water intoxication deaths. In 2007, a 28-year-old girl drunk two gallons of water in a contest in California and died from the water intoxication.

When a doctor diagnoses this disorder, the person should reduce the consummation of fluids in order to prevent the worsening of the symptoms. The mild cases of water intoxication may be cured just with eating salty foods. The intravenous sodium administration is a medical option for treating this condition in more serious cases.