KILLER WATER: Drinking water faster than your body can sweat, urinate or breathe it out can kill you.
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Liquid H2O is the sine qua non of life. Making up about 66 percent of the human body, water runs through the blood, inhabits the cells, and lurks in the spaces between. At every moment water escapes the body through sweat, urination, defecation or exhaled breath, among other routes. Replacing these lost stores is essential but rehydration can be overdone. There is such a thing as a fatal water overdose.
Earlier this year, a 28-year-old California woman died after competing in a radio station's on-air water-drinking contest. After downing some six liters of water in three hours in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" (Nintendo game console) contest, Jennifer Strange vomited, went home with a splitting headache, and died from so-called water intoxication.
There are many other tragic examples of death by water. In 2005 a fraternity hazing at California State University, Chico, left a 21-year-old man dead after he was forced to drink excessive amounts of water between rounds of push-ups in a cold basement. Club-goers taking MDMA ("ecstasy") have died after consuming copious amounts of water trying to rehydrate following long nights of dancing and sweating. Going overboard in attempts to rehydrate is also common among endurance athletes. A 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that close to one sixth of marathon runners develop some degree of hyponatremia, or dilution of the blood caused by drinking too much water.
Hyponatremia, a word cobbled together from Latin and Greek roots, translates as "insufficient salt in the blood." Quantitatively speaking, it means having a blood sodium concentration below 135 millimoles per liter, or approximately 0.4 ounces per gallon, the normal concentration lying somewhere between 135 and 145 millimoles per liter. Severe cases of hyponatremia can lead to water intoxication, an illness whose symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination and mental disorientation.
In humans the kidneys control the amount of water, salts and other solutes leaving the body by sieving blood through their millions of twisted tubules. When a person drinks too much water in a short period of time, the kidneys cannot flush it out fast enough and the blood becomes waterlogged. Drawn to regions where the concentration of salt and other dissolved substances is higher, excess water leaves the blood and ultimately enters the cells, which swell like balloons to accommodate it.
Most cells have room to stretch because they are embedded in flexible tissues such as fat and muscle, but this is not the case for neurons. Brain cells are tightly packaged inside a rigid boney cage, the skull, and they have to share this space with blood and cerebrospinal fluid, explains Wolfgang Liedtke, a clinical neuroscientist at Duke University Medical Center. "Inside the skull there is almost zero room to expand and swell," he says.
Thus, brain edema, or swelling, can be disastrous. "Rapid and severe hyponatremia causes entry of water into brain cells leading to brain swelling, which manifests as seizures, coma, respiratory arrest, brain stem herniation and death," explains M. Amin Arnaout, chief of nephrology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Where did people get the idea that guzzling enormous quantities of water is healthful? A few years ago Heinz Valtin, a kidney specialist from Dartmouth Medical School, decided to determine if the common advice to drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day could hold up to scientific scrutiny. After scouring the peer-reviewed literature, Valtin concluded that no scientific studies support the "eight x eight" dictum (for healthy adults living in temperate climates and doing mild exercise). In fact, drinking this much or more "could be harmful, both in precipitating potentially dangerous hyponatremia and exposure to pollutants, and also in making many people feel guilty for not drinking enough," he wrote in his 2002 review for the American Journal of Physiology—Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. And since he published his findings, Valtin says, "not a single scientific report published in a peer-reviewed publication has proven the contrary."
Most cases of water poisoning do not result from simply drinking too much water, says Joseph Verbalis, chairman of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. It is usually a combination of excessive fluid intake and increased secretion of vasopression (also called antidiuretic hormone), he explains. Produced by the hypothalamus and secreted into the bloodstream by the posterior pituitary gland, vasopressin instructs the kidneys to conserve water. Its secretion increases in periods of physical stress—during a marathon, for example—and may cause the body to conserve water even if a person is drinking excessive quantities.
Every hour, a healthy kidney at rest can excrete 800 to 1,000 milliliters, or 0.21 to 0.26 gallon, of water and therefore a person can drink water at a rate of 800 to 1,000 milliliters per hour without experiencing a net gain in water, Verbalis explains. If that same person is running a marathon, however, the stress of the situation will increase vasopressin levels, reducing the kidney's excretion capacity to as low as 100 milliliters per hour. Drinking 800 to 1,000 milliliters of water per hour under these conditions can potentially lead a net gain in water, even with considerable sweating, he says.
While exercising, "you should balance what you're drinking with what you're sweating," and that includes sports drinks, which can also cause hyponatremia when consumed in excess, Verbalis advises. "If you're sweating 500 milliliters per hour, that is what you should be drinking."
But measuring sweat output is not easy. How can a marathon runner, or any person, determine how much water to consume? As long as you are healthy and equipped with a thirst barometer unimpaired by old age or mind-altering drugs, follow Verbalis's advice, "drink to your thirst. It's the best indicator."
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31 Comments
Add Comment> Every hour, a healthy kidney at rest can excrete 800 to 1,000 milliliters, or 0.21 to 0.26 gallon, of water and therefore a person can drink water at a rate of 800 to 1,000 milliliters per hour without experiencing a net gain in water, Verbalis explains.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBut we have two kidneys -- doesn't this mean 2l rather than 1l per hour?
The problem with an article like this is that A LOT of people die from dehydration, yet very few die from drinking too much water. While true there is no substantiation for the "8 glasses a day" advice, pointing out the odd case of people dying from hyponatremia smacks of anecdotal reasoning. Even the cases you cite generally involve associated drug use, hazing, or water-guzzling contests (I'm still waiting for someone to die from a hot dog eating contest...at least immediately).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thissly fox
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisas nas says
this is another example of the media deceiving you making you think that this one situation applies to everyone
think with common sense.
this lady didnt die because she drunk too much water
she basically drowned herself
"Drinking gallons of water without peeing"
hello people. your body will tell you when you've drink too much water. it's Gods gift. not the media.
You wrote about Heinz Valtin claims that drinking a gallon of water a day can be harmful - which personally I believe is complete crap - then go on to write two paragraphs later that a healthy kidney can excrete about a quarter of a gallon of water an hour. Do the math on this, and you'll find out that a kidney can excrete around 4 gallons of water a day. If you truly meant one kidney as is written in your article, then both kidneys can process up to 8 gallons of water a day.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo unless I'm missing something here.... It seems that our body can safely process more than one gallon of water a day.
Of course, I'm not talking about chugging water. This is obviously spread out evenly over the day.
HI there!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am concerned about my water and fluid intake over the last week or so.I am an 31 year old South African Male and overweight,I do not have any major medical problems and only suffer from mild asthma.About a week ago ,I started an insatiable appetite for water.Sometimes up to 10 litres per day, the only effect this is having is that i go to the toilet every half hour and sometimes feel drained.Can someone give some advice?
Your symptoms could suggest diabetes. I would definitely consult a physician for a glucose tolerance test. Or, if you know someone who has a blood glucose meter, you could monitor this on your own. Your blood sugar level should be, on average, between 70 - 110. However, I would highly recommend a healthcare professionals opinion.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHas for having the need to drink copus amounts of water, I would have to agree see a doctor ASAP, this could be a sign of Diabetes lurking in the shadows. This I no because I am a type 1 diabetic of 37 years. Good luck.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA few years ago I ran a health promotion module at university in which students chose a method of improving their health and monitoring changes. Exercise, stopping smoking etc were obvious areas, but one lady was a very fit 40 year old who neither drank nor smoked, walked 10 miles a day and was vegetarian. Her weight was low normal BMI. After talking about 'vices', the only thing capable of changing was her consumption of lemonade (soda) which was about 2 litres a day whilst she was working.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe decided to try changing the lemonade for water. A week later she was happy, fit and had lost a little weight. Two weeks later she'd lost a little more weight...and so on. After a month I was worried about her continuing weight loss and at that point she admitted that she was not feeling too well, being occasionally dizzy. A little more quizzing and she said that she was sipping water through the day and consuming about 8 or 9 litres a day. She was addicted to water drinking. We had to work out a way of weaning her off the habit and it took a month before she was back to her normal self.
Drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol have also been given as advice to users of Ecstasy. In several confirmed instances, including the death of Australian mid-teen poster girl on the dangers of Ecstasy, it was determined that users had overhydrated, resulting in water intoxication. They died from water, not E.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswow i never realized that too much water can kill you. i feel like i have been drinking a lot lately. i think i have to cut down on it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi like how you think. i strongly agree with your answer. water is gods gift and this person is a fraud. she committed suicide.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am personally acquainted with a person who is an obssesive drinker of sports drinks, and several times a year needs to go to ER and get sodium and potassium blood level restored , as these minerals are excreted along with the water from the kidneys.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy brother had the same problem and it turned out he had diabetes. Please, get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBeing thirsty all the time may be the body trying to flush out excess glucose. ie Diabetes. Get to a doctor ASAP!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRegarding tazguy's comment...yes, more people probably do die of dehydration. However, those are the people who most likely have a serious illness or do not have access to healthy, clean water. Most healthy people drink water when they feel dehydrated (or to put more simply, thirsty). One interesting thing, though, is that this 8-glasses-a-day phenomenon didn't start until corporations started selling bottled water. People thought it was absolutely silly for companies to sell bottled water and didn't "buy" into it. Then this "8 glasses a day" rumor started, along with the "supposed" environmental problems with our natural drinking water began...coincidence? I don't think so. People would like to think that bottled water is so much healthier (and in some other countries that may be true) but here, I don't think so. Just drink when you're thirsty, people...and although the water may not taste that great out of your tap because of the minerals, it's probably healthy (unless you live next to an industrial plant that leaks toxic waste, or near a farm where there is animal waste runoff). Everyone needs to get a grip, and stop carrying bottled water around like it's a little baby (and I live in the desert!). You're ruining the environment with your discarded bottles.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy story
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI had to drink water to prepare for pelvic ultrasound. I was drinking more (maybe 3x more than I should) so I will be super prepared. . Husband massaged my back and neck which hurts me for many years and we left for the ultrasound. Shortly after that I developed spliting headache (I never had headache before except some with cold) and vomited water just when we reached the place. We decided to go to hospital to find out what has happened. They gave me 4 pills of GRAVOL (never heard of it). It put me to sleep and I woke up in another hospital with diagnosis I am dying from tumour???? ).Operation did not make any sense to me but dr. can scare u to death so I surrendered, and effect is that I am suffering from OSTEOMYELITIS (staph bone infection), because "I was out of luck" I tried to get scan films and cd that I was shown in dr. office without success.. After three years of suffering without help I got news that I need to remove bone flap because it is to late for only antibiotic therapy. I don't know how long I will live but I try to survive without questionable operation. So please watch out outside is very dangerous world!!! Please pray for me.Thank You. If You know or heard of remedy for staph bone infection please let me know. Or myabe there is someone who had such an operation followed by cranioplasty and is cured from infection please let me know how it happened.
Wynand,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI agree with the post below yours. It sounds like diabetes insupidus where your body doesn't produce enough ADH or vaspressin. See a health care professional immediately.
I feel really ill and always fell better when I vomit. I read that drinking a lot of water could make you sick. it said to drink 2 litres at once, bit it wasn't working and I got abut carryed a way and drank 3 litres (within 2 mins) could this be harmful .( I still havnt vomited.)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI feel really I'll and vomiting always helps.I read that drinking lots of water could make you sick.if drank 3 litres and havnt been sick.could this be harmful ( I drank it all within 2 min)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have detoxed many for drug test so many times, and consumed ungodly amounts of water i have never had any problems other than frequent urination. Come on water killing us? Ridiculous! And how do you know the effect of overhydration with MDMA? Who's too say the combination wasn't deadly. I mean drink as much water as you want... dont chug it as a game... that is the furthest thing from logical thought. Millions worldwide do water cleanses and detox and drink extremely high amounts of water... And do we here of millions dieing? Hell No! Come on lets be a little objective.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisERROR?"Every hour, a healthy kidney at rest can excrete 800 to 1,000 milliliters, or 0.21 to 0.26 gallon, of water and therefore a person can drink water at a rate of 800 to 1,000 milliliters per hour without experiencing a net gain in water, Verbalis explains. "....It is 1.5 - 2 liters of urine per day.# why at all shd anyone force drink water , when his thirst hydration/dehydration will tell him how nuch to drink? # water intoxication is as bad opposite as dehydration.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow! I am FREAKED OUT! I drink 100 ounces of water within the first three hours of waking up. I drink about 64 ounces before working out and then another 33 ounces during my workout. I continue to drink throughout the day as well, probably an additional 200 ounces..........I have always heard to drink a lot of water to lose weight. Advice? Opinions?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat is the total amount of water a 96 pound person drink without causing danger to themselves?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow much water can a 96 pound person consume in a water drinking bet without causing harm to themselves?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI agreed with you that drinking too much water may lead to a various type illness in the body or may killing you...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.raymeds.com/
Hi, so my brother had the same thing happen to him except he isn't overweight. He started drinking tons of water, almost a case of bottled water a day and he was 22 at the time. his tongue got really white like thrush. and he also was frequently urinating. he didnt think anything of it and he eventually had flu-like symptoms with vomiting and got weak. he passed out and when his friends took him to the er (as my mom and i were in a defferent state)they had told him that he has diabetes. im not saying that you have diabetes, but it wouldnt hurt to get it checked out. good luck to you :)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishi! i am 21 years old girl and i'am overweight according to my bmi..i want to know that as i heard that drinking 12 glasses of water a day would be good as to loose weight like instead of having the unwanted meal on unimportant time...is that true?and is this any think concern with the acne with drinking too much water?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI know this is an old article but I still hope someone can give me an answer. My husband drinks a to of water and gets upset when I tell him that it is too much. Just to make him realize how much it truly is I counted all the water bottles (we refil plastic water bottles with filtered tap water until they cant be used any more, so please no negative comments on that)he drinks in a day every day. We came to a total of between 22 - 25 bottles (0.7 ml each.)Thats a total of about 15 liters ( close to 4 gallons)a day on a normal day in the 60's and no exercise.And he still feels thirsty all the time. If I tell him its too much he tells me if he drinks less he starts feeling sick very fast. Does anyone have an idea what it could be, so I can send my husband to the doctor and get it checked out. I am trying for over 6 months now to get him to go and he always says that there is nothing wrong with him, he just needs lots of water. Its about a year now that he drinks 15 liters a day, before it was a lot but only about half of right now. Thanks. Maria
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI used to live just outside of the National Park boundaries on the South Rim of The Grand Canyon. I hiked allot during all seasons. I never drank less than one gallon of water per day, ever, while hiking. The question of "what is too much water?" is largely dependent upon "where" it is that we're talking about. Go hike the canyon and get back to me about how much water you went through. I never carried less than two gallons while hiking off of the main trails. It's 20 pounds of life sustaining stuff!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisp.s.: There are "seeps" and small creeks to filter and drink but you have to be both lucky and know where they are.
I think you are missing the point to this article. Many people are aware of dehydration and the effects and will act accordingly if they have the resources because it is pretty much common sense you need water to live. I believe the amount of people that know you can die from drinking a large amount of water is low. Also, people that are going through extreme dehydration are not thinking, " I really need water but what if I drink too much and die" it is because is isn't available to them or they are ignoring their body. I think it is a good article and is very interesting and informative.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs water is necessary for every cellular action within our bodies and so many medical warnings tell us the population as whole is dehydrated, doesn't it make sense to at least replace what we lose?
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