A 40-year-old woman from Hyderabad drank about 4 liters of water immediately after waking up, which almost cost her life as her condition became critical. According to Dr. Sudhir Kumar, neurologist at Apollo Hospital, the woman started having severe headache, nausea and vomiting.

“It is claimed that drinking extra water as soon as you wake up in the morning can help flush out all the waste from your body,” Dr Kumar wrote on social media site X.

Dr Kumar said that a few minutes after drinking the water, she started feeling disoriented and confused, following which she had a seizure and became unconscious. “The diagnosis was clear, it was likely caused by hyponatremia, or low sodium levels in the blood water intoxicationOur suspicions were also confirmed by blood test. Serum sodium level was 110 mmol/L,” he tweeted.

What is water intoxication?

According to experts, water intoxication occurs when excess water accumulates in your body. Doctors say this condition causes severe chemical imbalance Which your body is not able to expel naturally through sweat or urine.

drinking too much water Thinnes your blood and depletes electrolytes, especially sodium, in your body. And as a result, water gets into your body’s cells and causes them to swell. Therefore, when too much water accumulates in your brain cells, it increases pressure on the brain and affects the way it works. This changes your awareness, activity and behavior.

Doctors say that water intoxication can be fatal.

Symptoms and signs of water intoxication

Some signs and symptoms of water intoxication include:

• nausea and vomiting
• swelling in your stomach
• Headache
• drowsiness
• Muscle weakness, pain and cramps
• Changes in your mental status, including confusion, irritability, and dizziness
• severe swelling in your arms, legs, and stomach

Although it is not easy to know if you have drunk too much water, the color of your urine tells a lot about your health. If you are not hydrated, your urine will be pale yellow, like the color of light straw or lemonade. If your urine is colorless or clear, you may be drinking too much water. If your urine is colorless and you have symptoms of water intoxication, doctors advise you to stop drinking water.

How much water can cause overhydration?

It depends on the amount of water consumed which can lead to overhydration. According to doctors, it is important to understand how your body uses water to know how much water is too much for you. Excess water can be removed from your body through urination. This is equivalent to approximately 1-2 liters in a day.

In some people, symptoms of water intoxication begin to develop after drinking about 3-4 liters in an hour or two. You can help prevent overhydration by:

• drink when thirsty
• listening to your body
• Stopping after quenching your thirst; Don’t force yourself to drink alcohol
• Stop drinking if you feel nauseous, flatulent, or have a headache

How can you treat water intoxication?

Some ways you can reduce water intoxication are:

• stopping or limiting your water consumption
• Treating the cause of water intoxication, which may include stopping certain medications
• Depending on the cause of water intoxication, the doctor may also give you diuretics or IV fluids.

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