At the top of 2023, the actor Brooke Shields He had a seizure after his body was “flooded” with water. While preparing for his show by drinking a great deal of water, Shields' sodium became dangerously low. “I flooded my system and I drowned myself,” she would later explain. “And if you don't have enough sodium in your blood or urine or in your body, you can have a seizure.”
Shields said she found herself wandering outside “for no reason,” wondering: “Why am I here?”
Then I walk into the restaurant and approach the sommelier who just took an hour to observe me run. That's when every part went black. Then my hands fall to my side and I’m going face first into the wall.
Shields added that she was “foaming at the mouth, absolutely blue, trying to swallow my tongue”.
Like Shields, many individuals could also be unaware of the risks of drinking an excessive amount of water — especially since hydration is commonly related to health advantages. Models and celebrities Often advocates Drink loads of water to assist maintain clear, smooth skin. Some Social media influencers Drinking a gallon of water per day has been promoted for weight reduction.
But may cause excessive water consumption hyponatraemia – A potentially fatal condition of low sodium within the blood.
Concerned about hydration levels? Check your urine.
The body tightly regulates its water content to take care of optimal levels of Total body water and “osmolality”—the concentration of dissolved particles in your blood. Osmolality increases when you’re dehydrated and reduces when you will have an excessive amount of fluid in your blood.
Osmolality is monitored by osmoreceptors which regulates sodium and water balance within the hypothalamus – the a part of the brain that controls many hormones. These osmoreceptors signal the discharge of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which acts on the blood vessels and kidneys to manage the quantity of water and salt within the body.
In healthy people, the body releases ADH when osmolality becomes high. ADH tells the kidneys to reabsorb water, which makes the urine more concentrated. Reabsorbed water thins the blood, bringing the osmolality back to normal levels.
Low blood volume inhibits the discharge of ADH, reducing the quantity of water reabsorbed by the kidneys. This dilutes your urine, which the body then passes on to rid itself of excess water.
Healthy urine needs to be clear and odorless. Dark, yellow urine with a noticeable odor may indicate dehydration—although medications and certain foods, including Insulation whiteIt may also affect the colour and smell of urine.
How much is just too much?
Adults should use Two to three liters per dayAbout 20 percent of which comes from food. However, we are able to lose Up to ten liters Sweating – so sweating during exercise or in hot weather increases the quantity of water we want to switch through drinking.
Certain medical conditions may cause overhydration. About One in five Schizophrenic patients drink water compulsively, which is alleged to be a dangerous condition. Psychiatric polydipsia. A protracted-term study found that patients with psychogenic polydipsia had a “74% more chance Premature Dying within the Non-Polydipsic Patient”.
I Some casesPeople with anorexia nervosa Can even be affected by drinking forced water.
For those with polydipsia, treatment focuses on medications to scale back the chance. Desire to drinkin addition to Increased sodium levels. It needs to be done slowly to avoid this myelinolysis – Nerve damage Due to rapid changes in sodium levels in nerve cells.
In rare but often highly publicized cases corresponding to Leah Bates In 1995, some users of the illegal drug MDMA (often called Happiness) Is died Drink loads of water to rehydrate after dancing and sweating.
medicine Increases body temperature, so consumers drink water to avoid overheating. Unfortunately, MDMA can be stimulating. Unnecessary release of ADH, causing water retention. The body becomes unable to rid itself of excess water, which affects its electrolyte levels – causing cells to bloat with water.
Symptoms of water intoxication begin with nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and dizziness. As the condition progresses, patients may develop more frequent symptoms. PsychologySuch as inappropriate behavior, confusion, delusions, hallucinations and delusions.
These are brought on by symptoms. hyponatraemia, where sodium levels drop or turn into depleted within the blood and the resulting imbalance of electrolytes affects the nervous system. Water begins to enter the brain on account of which Cerebral edema – Swelling within the brain on account of excessive fluid accumulation, which is frequently fatal if left untreated.
A healthy body will let you know when it needs water. If you’re thirsty and your urine is dark with a noticeable odor, it is advisable to drink more. If you're not thirsty and your urine is evident or a lightweight straw color, you're already doing a great job of hydrating yourself.