The reason behind is both bizarre and scary
According to Dr. Blake Froberg from Indiana University Health occurs water poisoning when drinking large amounts of water in a very short time and the body’s salt balance cannot keep up. When sodium in the blood is diluted too quickly, the body’s cells swell – including brain cells – which can have fatal consequences.
The symptoms of water poisoning range from nausea and muscle cramps to confusion and unconsciousness. The first signs are often confused with ordinary dehydration – and therefore the danger signals are overlooked.
Ashley’s brother, Devon Miller, says he had never heard of water poisoning before the doctors mentioned it. His sister’s intake of about half a gallon of water – usually recommended over a full day – was drunk in less than half an hour.
« It was a shock to all of us when they started talking about water poisoning, and that’s how, ‘Is that a thing?’, » He says.
« It means to me that if I’m thirsty and still don’t feel comfortable for a bottle of water, then maybe I should choose something with electrolytes instead, » he adds.
The incident has aroused excellence in both the United States and internationally, and experts are now calling for not only the amount of fluid in hot periods – but also on the balance of salts and nutrients in the body. For even something as simple as water, in excessive quantities, can be anything but harmless.
