Too much of a good thing

We are constantly bombarded with advice to drink plenty of water. Drink your eight glasses a day! Staying hydrated is good for your health! Well, who knew that drinking too much water could be dangerous? Actually, most athletes, in particular runners, probably know that drinking too much water can lead to serious medical issues, such as hyponatremia. Marathoners who hydrate too enthusiastically can die or become seriously impaired. Basically, the intake of too much water causes a salt imbalance in the body, which in turn causes the swelling of cells and the brain. The next step is seizures then respiratory problems.

The most recent water tragedy occurred as a result of a water-drinking contest hosted by a radio station in Sacramento, CA. The radio station hosted a “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” contest in which participants drank large amounts of water and were not allowed to use the bathroom (if they hoped to win the contest, that is). The contestant who died was a 28-year-old female who drank water for about three hours without going to the bathroom. She finished in second place. She was interviewed on air by the radio station disc jockeys and complained of head pain. The disc jockeys made light of the contestant’s bloated belly. The participant then went home and died.

Medical experts say the participant would have survived had the radio station had medical personnel on site. An IV sodium drip could have saved her life. Her family has filed a lawsuit against the radio station, and the trial is currently under way. A medical expert spoke on behalf of the family and explained that the contestant died of hyponatremia. The defense argued that her death could not have been foreseen.

For more information, see this article.

This was posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 and is filed in the Legal, Patient Death categories.