Water poisoning: Is this true?

[zut]

In the classic column, Is it true they allow “certified organic” produce to be sprayed with chemicals? (06-Jun-1997), Cecil makes the offhand comment,

For example, the well known
compound H2O, known to be fatal if consumed to excess.

Really now, is this true? I’ve heard this before, along with arguments about kidney failure and whatnot, but I had assumed that “water poisoning” was more of a hypothetical UL than an established fact. Can you actually drink and hold enough water to kill you? And is it “known to be fatal” in the sense that there is published research on the subject, or is it “known to be fatal” through supposition (Coke and PopRocks come to mind)?

And finally, has this been discussed before? I found no reference upon searching, but this seems like too common of a thing to not have come up before.

[Arnold_Winkelried]

I personally thought that C.A. was making a joke about drowning.

[zut]

You might be right, Arnold. I hadn’t thought of that, but the statement I quoted could be interpreted as referring to drowning.

However, I have had at least three people inform me, in all seriousness, that it’s possible to kill oneself by drinking too much water. This is usually brought up with a comment like, “No substance is completely non-poisonous; enough of anything can kill you. Why, if you drink enough water, even that can kill you.” The reasoning was never quite clear or quite believable (stomach explosion, kidney failure, imbalance in cell salinity causing rupture), so I figured 'twas an UL. But now, since Cecil says the exact same thing (assuming he was at semi-serious…) in the contect of a similar discussion, and it’s at least plausible, then I wonder.

[John_W.Kennedy]

I remember the remark being made somewhere (my 7th-grade science textbook?) that I respected, at least at the time. I believe the quantity given was two gallons – which very likely would be enough to seriously disrupt the various life processes of an average-sized human.

[Arnold_Winkelried]

Well, at least some people are in risk of dying from excess water, according to the information included below.

From a recent article in the Los Angeles Times (I don’t provide a link because you have to register to read old articles). The article’s focus was that not everyone needs to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Monday, November 20, 2000
For years we’ve been admonished to chug eight glasses of water a day–for our skin, for our weight, for general good health. But–surprise!–experts say that advice is simply…
Hard to Swallow
By BENEDICT CAREY, Times Health Writer

But there are also people for whom guzzling water is dangerous. According to Dr. Gary Robertson, who studies water metabolism at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, these are patients whose bodies have trouble eliminating fluids–for example, those with diabetes who are taking anti-diuretic hormone, or ADH, which prevents the body from losing water. “The excess water cannot be excreted,” he says, “and the result is water intoxication, which produces symptoms ranging from mild headache to confusion, coma, seizures and occasionally even death.”

Increasingly, says Robertson, doctors are prescribing ADH for conditions such as nocturia, a persistent need to urinate at night, which ruins sleep in many elderly people; and bed-wetting, in both older adults and children. He’s aware of one case already in which a diabetic woman taking ADH died of water intoxication after following the advice of an article discussing the health benefits of water.

[bibliophage]

Water intoxication is potentially (but rarely) fatal. I’ve heard of a few cases of otherwise healthy people requiring hospitalization following water-drinking contests sponsored by radio stations.

Another County Heard From posted some information and links about it here

[Cabbage]

I remember in '95 or '96 reading about a hiker in the Grand Canyon who suffered from water intoxication. There are signs along the trail reminding hikers to drink plenty of water; apparently this hiker went to the other extreme, drinking 18 quarts, IIRC, of water during the course of the afternoon. He was near death, but survived, as I recall.

I didn’t find anything on the 'net specific to that story, but here’s something from the Grand Canyon web site:

Water intoxication (hyponatremia) is an illness that mimics the early symptoms of heat exhaustion, except that urination is frequent, a higher volume than normal, and clear. If left untreated, advanced symptoms include behavioral changes, diarrhea, and unconsciousness; these symptoms often require hospitalization. Water intoxication can occur when a person drinks excessive amounts of water and eats very little or not at all, creating an electrolyte imbalance. To prevent and treat early stages of water intoxication, eat! Consider using one of the many electrolyte drink mixes, such as Gatorade to supplement your water supply.

[zut]

Well, thanks guys. I guess Cecil was right all along. I should have known, but still it’s interesting to have some extra background information. I suppose I should have known that this very topic has been discussed a mere week ago on these very boards.

[Loren_Pechtel]

*Originally posted by zut *
Really now, is this true? I’ve heard this before, along with arguments about kidney failure and whatnot, but I had assumed that “water poisoning” was more of a hypothetical UL than an established fact. Can you actually drink and hold enough water to kill you? And is it “known to be fatal” in the sense that there is published research on the subject, or is it “known to be fatal” through supposition (Coke and PopRocks come to mind)?

 Too much water can kill because the kidneys aren't perfect--in excreting the water, they also lose a certain amount of minerals. Upset the electrolyte balance too badly and you die.

[Amazing_Tiki_God]

Being your typical know-it-all college student I MUST throw my knowledge into this one. Go beyond drinking excessive amounts of water as poisonus think of it as something else. Certain types of water induce different types of responses in the body (the bloodstream). Salt water what does it do to the body if consumed in excess? Causes red blood cells to shrivel up and cease to function. Now reverse that and what about distilled water? Distilled water causes red blood cells to expand to a point to where they could burst. These alone could be fatal if taken in excess my guess is you wouldn’t need the 2 gallos stated earlier of these liquids. Granted in all likelyhood there is a flaw somewhere in my theory here but what the heck ya know?

[gtbiehle]

I don’t have a source on this, but I remember being told of a mentally ill woman in Florida who drank too much water, thinking all the time she was dehydrating. The cause of death was drowning for the following reason: Her kidneys could not expel the water fast enough, and the water in her blood diffused into the lungs, causing the alveoli to collapse and cease to pass oxygen. I was under the impression that this takes A LOT of water, much more than has been mentioned in this thread. Does anyone have documentation on this?