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Hyponatremia Research Paper

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Did you know that you can die from drinking too much water? Water intoxication can also be referred to as “water poisoning.” It can cause fatal disturbances in the brain functions. Meaning the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by overhydration. If your electrolytes drop too low too quickly, it can be fatal. Death by overhydration is rare, but it can still happen. Drinking a large amount of water in a short period of time can be dangerous; it can cause a level of salt, or sodium in your blood to drop too low. This is called “Hyponatremia,” This is a very serious condition that can be fatal. Some symptoms of Hyponatremia are nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, spasms or cramps, seizures, and loss of energy and fatigue. For serious symptomatic hyponatremia, the first line of treatment is prompt intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline. Untreated overhydration can lead to dangerously low levels of sodium in your blood. This can cause more severe symptoms, such as muscle weakness, cramps, seizures and coma. You would have to drink an enormous amount of water for this condition to happen. But …show more content…

Not many people drink enough water in one day to get water intoxicated, but others are more at a risk of not drinking enough. Even though the human body is about 60% water it would seem unlikely to die from Hyponatremia, but in rare cases it still happens. Hyponatremia has become more common for athletes with longer lasting activities like marathon runners or cycling. Where it's easier for other sports activity to just take a quick water break. When you're thirsty it's a way of your body telling you to hydrate, and how much you’ll wanna drink. Drinking large amounts of water won’t cause overhydration, it’s when your pituitary gland, kidneys, liver, and heart aren’t functionally working normally. Whereas an adults body’s with a healthy kidney function can take in six gallons of water on a regular daily

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