A common problem some people have is not drinking enough water which could lead to sickness like UTI and such. Only rarely does it happen that someone dies from drinking too much water, but this is exactly what happened to a 35-year-old who drank around 64 ounces in just 20 minutes.
Water Toxicity
According to Mail Online, a woman died after drinking about 64 ounces of water in just 20 minutes. Ashley Summers was a mother of two, and she died at age 35 shortly after spending the day at Lake Freeman.
The woman from Indiano spent a leisurely day over the weekend; but after that, she felt a headache and became lightheaded. No matter how much she drank, she couldn't satisfy her thirst, which led her to drink four bottles of 16oz worth of water.
Upon returning home, she collapsed in the garage and experienced severe brain swelling, losing consciousness in the process. Doctors at the hospital said she had hyponatremia, which was water toxicity.
Mail Online reports that this happens when the body lacks sodium but has too much water.
Death from Water
WLFI reports that Ms. Summers' brother, Devon Miller, couldn't believe what had happened and was confused as to the condition. The brother then explained how his sister felt like she couldn't get enough water which led her to drink four bottles in the span of around 20 minutes.
She drank the water during a 20-minute boat ride from a sand bar to the dock during a visit to Lake Freeman. Ms. Summers was joined by her family on a weekend holiday boat excursion north of Indianapolis.
Mr. Miller said that his sister loved the water.
The family was at the vacation spot from July 1 until 4. When the incident happened, Ms. Summers was rushed to the Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital; and when she got there, her brain had been swelling and the doctors diagnosed her with water poisoning.
Hyponatraemia Explained
The National Library of Medicine explains that hyponatremia is an electrolyte abnormality that happens when the body's sodium content is overpowered by water content. Euvolemic hyponatremia can happen with high fluid intake in certain conditions like potomania, which happens during low intake of solutes.
Mail Online reports that ingesting excessive amounts of water in a short period could overwhelm the body's complex organ systems, affecting its ability to regulate and balance bodily fluids. The primary organ that could be affected by the sudden influx of large quantities of water is the kidney.
Ideally, people would want to have a healthy balance of water and electrolytes like sodium, chloride, and potassium. This is to ensure that the cells are still capable of functioning properly.
Sodium is important for communication between cells to remain healthy. It also helps in the nutrient absorption of the digestive system and kidneys.
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