How overdrinking water for detoxification almost killed a woman

Water is considered to be the essence of human life. But what if we bring to you a case where excessive water almost killed a woman.

Dr Sudhir Kumar, who is popular on social media for sharing insights and relevant cases for netizens to understand about various diseases, has recently shared a post where a woman drank up to 4 litres of water in the morning for detoxification.

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Sharing the case Dr Sudhir Kumar writes on X: 40-year-old Ms Rajni (name changed) was told to drink water in the morning to detoxify her body. It was claimed that drinking excess water in the morning after waking up would clear all the wastes from her body, making her healthier. In addition, it was claimed that her skin would also get rejuvenated.



Ms Rajni took the advice seriously and drank about 4 liters of water in the morning after waking up. Within an hour, she developed headache, nausea and vomited once. A few minutes later, she felt confused and disoriented, which was followed by a seizure and loss of consciousness.

She was diagnosed with hyponatremia caused by water intoxication

Dr Sudhir explains that the woman's serum sodium level had dropped to 110 mmol/L, the normal range is 135-145.

"Ms Rajni was admitted to the ICU, and hyponatremia was corrected, over the next 3 days. She responded to the treatment, and her mental status returned to normal within 24 hours. She was discharged on the 4th day," he writes.

Ideally one should consume 2-3 litres of water

The amount of water a person should drink for a healthy body depends on several factors, including age, weight, climate, and activity levels. This is a good starting point for many people and ensures adequate hydration for most daily activities.



However, individual hydration needs can vary. For example, people who exercise regularly or live in hot climates may require more water to compensate for fluid loss through sweat. On the other hand, those who consume more caffeine or alcohol may need additional water to counteract their dehydrating effects. Similarly, pregnant or breastfeeding women have increased water needs to support bodily functions and milk production.

Listening to your body is key. Thirst is a natural signal that indicates your body needs water, and urine color can be a good indicator of hydration status. Clear or light yellow urine typically suggests proper hydration, while dark yellow or amber urine indicates dehydration. It's essential to balance water intake throughout the day, rather than drinking excessively at once, to ensure the body remains well-hydrated and functions optimally.