We are told over and over again: you have to drinkwater. In the british medical journal, experts at King’s College Hospital (London) questioned this recommendation after treating a 59-year-old woman who drank so much water that she became seriously ill.
From a urinary tract infection she goes to water intoxication
The background: After developing symptoms of a UTI, the woman decided to drink lots of water. Too much if we relate to the following events since she was admitted to the hospital where the doctors found that she had dangerously low levels of salt in her blood.
This can happen when too much water is consumed for a short time. Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, headaches and speech disorders. In severe cases, the brain can swell, which can lead to confusion, coma, and death. A mortality rate of nearly 30% has been reported in patients with abnormally low salt levels.
Doctors were able to save the woman’s life by limiting her fluid intake to one liter in the 24 hours after admission. But they reported the case of a young woman suffering from gastroenteritis who died after having also consumed too much water.
Drinking too much water can have serious consequences
“We frequently advise our patients to drink plenty of fluids and to stay well hydrated when they are sick, explain Drs. Laura Christine Lee and Maryann Noronha. But what do we mean by that? Are there any potential risks with this seemingly innocuous advice?”
According to Dr Imran Rafi, Chair of Clinical Innovation and Research at the Royal College of General Practitioners (London), Drinking enough water is important for staying healthy, physically and mentally. “We encourage patients to drink more if they have symptoms of dehydration. There is no consistent recommendation as to good amount of water consume.
Everyone should drink enough to stay hydrated and healthy.”
However, excessive water intake can have significant consequences for patients. Healthcare professionals and patients need to remember this, this report stresses.
Read also :
– Drinking a lot of water can be deadly