You have to hydrate, we hear in a loop in this period of heat wave. But beware, drinking too much water can lower the concentration of sodium in the blood, and cause symptoms ranging from fatigue to coma.
- Hyponatremia can also be caused by an excess of salt loss, compared to water elimination.
- In case of strong heat, it is also essential to avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day.
- It is recommended not to exceed 1.5L of water per day.
Drinking water is essential in case of hot weather, but you should not drink too much! Excessive water intake exposes to the risk of hyponatremia, an excess of sodium, or salt, in the blood. As reminded by Ministry of Healthit’s a “serious complication often overlooked”.
#Heat wave | Excessive water consumption can be a source of#Hyponatremia.
⚠ Elderly, chronically ill, people taking certain medications:
consult your doctor to adapt your diets and drug treatments. pic.twitter.com/VD1dlPmbhv– Ministry of Solidarity and Health (@Sante_Gouv) July 18, 2022
Symptoms of varying severity
Hyponatremia can manifest itself in different ways. Initially, it is characterized by fatigue, nausea or vomiting. In people with liver or heart failure, edema may also form. According to the Ministry of Health, the presence of these symptoms requires a dosage of natremia, i.e. the amount of sodium in the blood. Sometimes, this pathology can lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as lethargy, a confusional state, convulsions, or even a coma, in the worst case.
Profiles at risk
We are not all equal when it comes to the risk of hyponatremia. The body of the elderly has more difficulty compensating for the imbalances linked to too much water intake, “especially since from a certain age perspiration is altered or even absent”, adds the Ministry of Health. Certain pathologies are also risk factors for hyponatremia: malnutrition, kidney failure, heart failure, liver failure, respiratory failure, cystic fibrosis, endocrine problems (thyroid, diabetes, etc.), cancers or neuropsychiatric disorders.
The French health authorities also point out that taking medication can contribute to the drop in sodium concentration in the blood. Among them, diuretic treatments, generally prescribed against high blood pressure, heart or kidney problems, but also psychotropic drugs such as neuroleptics and antidepressants. “The elderly, poly-pathological and poly-medicated people are the most exposed”insists the Ministry of Health.
#Heat wave | Excessive water consumption can be a source of#Hyponatremia.
⚠ Elderly, chronically ill, people taking certain medications:
consult your doctor to adapt your diets and drug treatments. pic.twitter.com/VD1dlPmbhv– Ministry of Solidarity and Health (@Sante_Gouv) July 18, 2022
How to reduce the risk?
For individuals most at risk of hyponatremia, it is necessary to take certain precautions. First, hydration should not rely solely on water, because food also represents a significant contribution. The Ministry of Health recommends “ofabsolutely accompany the intake of drinks with a varied diet, dividing meals if necessary, to maintain a sufficient salt intake for the body (bread, soups, etc.).
To create artificial perspiration, it may be useful to moisten the skin and ventilate it. People taking treatments or following an adapted diet, such as those low in sodium, should seek the advice of their doctor in the event of hot weather, in order to adapt these measures to extreme temperatures.