Water Intoxication

There is no doubt that drinking enough water is essential for our health. However, water intoxication can actually happen when having large amounts of water, way more than what the body needs.

Water intoxication

Water intoxication occurs when we drink excessive amounts of water, and the body might not be able to clear it out with sweating or urinating.

When you consume large amounts of water, the blood dilutes and the electrolytes in the body reduce as well, particularly sodium, and that opens the way for the water to enter inside the cells and make them swell, and that includes all the cells of the whole body.

Causes of water intoxication

It’s not easy for a person to drink water to the limit that it causes water toxicity when they have a normal kidney function in general. However, there are certain conditions that could increase the risk of water intoxication because they affect the kidney’s function in filtering the excessive water, such as:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Congestive heart failure (CHF).
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).
• Liver disease.
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which make the kidney retain water.

Drinking too much water could cause overhydration, which is more likely to occur in the following situations:

• Working in very hot environments and doing sports that lead to excessive sweating for a long time. As a result, the person tends to drink extravagant amounts of water in order to avoid dehydration, and that might lead them to water intoxication.
• Having a mental health condition that’s called psychogenic polydipsia.
• Having a low body mass, like children under 1 year.
• Using a hallucinogenic substance called MDMA.
• Using certain medications that lead to extreme thirst, such as some antipsychotics and depression medications.

There isn’t a specific amount of water that causes water intoxication because it varies between people. However, it’s recommended not to have large volumes of water in a short period of time (like drinking around one liter of water during one hour).

Symptoms of water intoxication

• Excessive water causes the brain cells to swell, which leads to an increased pressure on it, and that interferes with its work.
• Although knowing that we had too much water isn’t that simple, the color of the urine could be a beneficial indicator because it should normally be light yellow, but when we are overhydrated, it could become clear or colorless.
• Bloating.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Headache.
• Drowsiness.
• Muscle pain, weakness, and cramps.
• Confusion, dizziness, and irritability.
• Swelling in the abdomen, hands, and feet.
• If water toxicity isn’t managed, it could lead to delirium, seizures, coma, and even death.

Diagnosis of water intoxication

• Medical history of the patient.
• Asking about the symptoms.
• Physical examination.
• Blood and urine tests.

Treatment of water intoxication

• Stopping water consumption.
• Electrolyte compensation.
• To prevent water toxicity, you must only drink when you’re thirsty, stop drinking water when you’ve quenched your thirst, and don’t force yourself to drink more water than what’s needed. In general, it’s recommended to have 3.7 liters of water for males and 2.7 liters for females throughout a whole day (not in a short period of time).