User:Mr. Ibrahem/Water intoxication

Water intoxication (WI) is a condition that occurs due to drinking excessive amounts of water. Initial symptoms include production of large amounts of urine. More severe symptoms may include headache, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, and confusion. Complications may include seizures and osmotic demyelination syndrome.

It can occur as a result of psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia and anorexia, child abuse, ecstasy use, water-drinking contests, or drinking excess fluids during exercise. Other causes include excessive intravenous sugar solution without sufficient salt and a method of torture in which a person is forced to drink excessive amounts of water. The underlying mechanism involves the introduction of more water than the kidneys can eliminate resulting in low blood sodium. As the blood becomes hypotonic the brain swells.

Prevention in sports is by drinking to match ones thirst. Using oral rehydration solutions rather than sports drinks may also help. For mild cases, restricting fluids may be sufficient. For severe cases intravenous hypertonic saline may be used. Water intoxication is rare. Death has occurred from drinking 6 liters of water over three hours. The condition has been described since at least 1923 by Rowntree.