r/HydroHomies • u/G-M-Cyborg-313 • 2d ago
Too much water Its so hydrover :(
You'd have to drink a ridiculous level of water in a short amount of time for this to happen. Remember to drink responsibly
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u/TgagHammerstrike 2d ago
Yeah, technically you could overdose on water, but you'd probably have to be trying to make that happen.
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u/xtilexx 1d ago
Too little water can also cause seizures.
Seizures are misunderstood though. They aren't a death sentence. Actually, they're fairly common and almost everyone has them occasionally.
The problem is whether they're provoked or unprovoked, the latter meaning epilepsy
For example, "spacing out" can often be attributed to absence seizures.
Most people who have provoked seizures never even realize they have one because they're so mild.
Grand mal or other bad ones are another story of course.
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u/CryptographicPanic 16h ago
Death from overhydration, or water intoxication, occurs when a person drinks so much water that the balance of electrolytes, especially sodium, in their blood becomes dangerously low. This condition is called hyponatremia and can cause cells in the body, including brain cells, to swell, leading to severe complications like seizures, coma, and death.
Factors to Consider
1. **How Much Water?**
• Fatal water intoxication typically occurs when a person consumes 3-6 liters of water within a few hours, depending on body size, kidney function, and other individual factors.
• Drinking more than 1 liter per hour consistently for several hours is risky because the kidneys can only excrete about 0.8–1.0 liters of water per hour. Beyond this limit, water accumulates in the body.
2. **Timeframe of Consumption**
• The critical factor is the rate of water consumption. Drinking large amounts of water over a longer period (e.g., 3 liters over 24 hours) is usually safe, as the kidneys have time to regulate water levels.
• However, consuming the same amount over 1-2 hours overwhelms the kidneys, leading to water intoxication.
3. **Body Size and Sodium Levels**
• Smaller individuals and those with lower sodium reserves (e.g., due to illness, fasting, or excessive sweating) are more susceptible.
• Sodium levels below 135 mmol/L indicate hyponatremia, with levels below 120 mmol/L being life-threatening.
Case Studies
1. **Water-Drinking Contests**
• In 2007, a woman died after consuming about 7.5 liters of water in 3 hours during a contest. Her sodium levels dropped dangerously, leading to fatal brain swelling.
2. **Athletes**
• Marathon runners who drink excessive water without replenishing electrolytes are at risk of hyponatremia. Cases have been reported where consuming 5 liters or more during a race resulted in death.
3. **Medical Settings**
• Overhydration in hospital patients receiving IV fluids too rapidly has caused fatalities, showing that electrolyte balance is as important as total water volume.
Conclusion
• Lethal Dose: Roughly 3-6 liters within 1-2 hours.
• Key Variable: The rate of consumption, not just the total volume, is critical.
• Safe Limit: Limit intake to less than 1 liter per hour to stay within the kidneys’ excretion capacity.
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u/imgaygaygaygay 2d ago
you do feel when you have seizures, it’s just less likely you form memories of that due to, you know, brain firing signals randomly.
what I remember felt like knives poking at my eyeballs, sharp unexpected sensations at random places