Water Intoxication: Can we overdose on water?
More 60% of the human body is made up of water. Water is very important for the functioning of each and every cell of the body. Without water, a human can only survive for a few days. One is recommended to drink 8 glasses of water every day. This is approximately around 2 liters of water per day. However as everything is good only in moderation, even excess of water in the body can be detrimental. The current article aims to discuss the situation of water intoxication and how it can arise.
How much water is too much water?
As mentioned, an average person is advised to drink 8 glasses or 2 liters of water per day. However in some circumstances, the mind wants you to consume more water than it is advised. This can cause water intoxication. If a person consumes water at 3 to 4 liters per hour, then the signs of water intoxication start showing.
What happens inside the body?
If a person drinks a lot of water, the kidney is not able to process it at the same speed. Therefore, the body is unable to get rid of the water as quickly as the body is drinking the water. Hence the bodily fluids become diluted. The important component here is sodium. The concentration of sodium becomes low outside the body cells. In comparison, the concentration sodium is higher inside the cell. This causes the cells to absorb water to balance out the different in sodium concentration. Hence, the cells in the body swell. This situation is called hyponatremia. When this happen in the brain cells, it can be very fatal and even cause death.
Causes of Water Intoxication
In simple terms, it is basically drinking is more water than the body is able to get rid of. However, it is very difficult to consciously drink too much water. We only drink water when we feel thirsty. Therefore, the chances of an average human to get affected by water intoxication are very less. However, people who subject themselves to very vigorous training and exercise like athletes or marathon runners can face this situation.
Signs and Symptoms of Water Intoxication
The initial symptoms of water intoxication include headache and vomiting. The falling are the complications that arise if the case gets serious:
5. Disruption in sensory abilities
In extreme stages, it can cause seizures, brain damage and even death.
What are the first few steps that you should take?
If you notice the signs of water intoxication in someone, the first thing you need to do is to immediately inform a doctor and make arrangements to take the patient to the hospital or the doctor. In the meantime, the patient can be given some salty snacks to eat so as to try and make the sodium concentration in the body go up.
Water intoxication signs are often very similar to the signs and symptoms of dehydration. The above mentioned steps should be taken only as long as the issue is confirmed. If you are not sure what the patient is experiencing, it is best to refrain from giving them any first aid and immediately call for professional medical help.
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Do not force yourself to drink water if you are not feeling thirsty. The best way to go about it is to drink water whenever you feel thirsty instead of delaying it. This prevents both dehydration and water intoxication.
While it is possible to overdose on water, it is rather rare to do that voluntarily. It is only after very vigorous exercise or drug intoxication that one can drink so much water that it becomes fatal. It is although necessary to know the signs of the issue so that all the crucial first aid can be provided in case someone in the vicinity ends up in this situation.
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