From: Gary Boyd (g.dboyd@verizon.net)
Date: Fri Aug 02 2002 - 07:05:36 CDT
John LeBlanc wrote:
> Did you know it is possible to drink too much water? Two Army
> recruits have died this summer from drinking too much water. Died of
> brain swelling from drinking water too fast for the body to assimilate
> it. Causes severe brain swelling from just drinking 3 to 3-1/2
> gallons in one day. Almost always fatal.
The larger problem with drinking too much water is called hyponatremia .
This condition occurs when lost sweat (salt and water) is replaced by
ingested water (no salt). This dilutes the sodium in the bloodstream,
and hyponatremia results. During exercise in the heat, more salt is
lost in sweat per hour than is usually replaced by food and fluids,
including sports drinks. The body can tolerate a degree of imbalance for
a short period of time, but it may decompensate if this continues for
too long. The Army learned, beginning in the 1980s that the advice to
"hydrate, hydrate, hydrate" carried its own risks after several recruits
died despite clear evidence that they had been drinking adequate amounts
of water. Heart irregularities, heart attacks and similar problems are
the result.
My own experience with this was severe nightime leg cramps after hiking,
particularly in the summer. After some medical consultation I
determined that it was caused by high levels of water intake and not
enough sodium. Reducing the volume of water to a "reasonable" amount
was the answer.
It is worth some research, particularly for those of us in the south and
southwest US who are often involved in outdoor activities in high
temperature conditions.
YiS
Gary Boyd
Troop 151 CC
Georgetown, Texas
www.troop151.org
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