Water toxicity has been in the news lately after a mother of two died from chugging down too much water. Similarly, a TikToker was hospitalized from "drinking an excessive amount of water" while trying a viral fitness challenge.
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Water toxicity can occur when someone drinks water faster than their body can process, which is about 1 liter per hour. An excessive amount of water can cause “real damage” as it throws off the balance of your blood.
It’s rare to reach a severe stage of water toxicity that results in death. Symptoms of water toxicity include nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle cramping, body weakness, brain fog, lethargy, and vision changes like double vision or blurry vision.
It’s important to gradually stay hydrated throughout a hot day or throughout a workout. Women should be drinking about 2.5 liters of water an entire day, and men should be drinking 3.5 liters of water per day. Steady hydration is healthy, the kidneys cannot handle excessive water just about half a litre an hour.
For those who do find themselves over hydrating and drinking an excessive amount of water in a short period of time, experts stress the need to seek medical attention in order to receive a very calculated treatment plan.