From controlling body temperature and flushing out toxins, adequate hydration plays a vital role in our general health and well-being, water is a life essential. However, while dehydration garners significant attention, overhydration, or drinking excessive amounts of water, is a condition that can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences.

Although it may sound bizarre since drinking water is said to be the solution for most health related problems it is important to recognize how much water is considered "too much" or the risks involved with being overhydrated can maintain a healthy balance.

What Is Water Intoxication?

Water intoxication, also termed hyperhydration, water poisoning or water toxemia, develops when an individual drinks much more water than the kidney can excrete. The main function of the kidneys in the human body is the processing and excretion of excess water. However, the human kidneys can process only up to 0.8 to 1.0 liters of water at a time. Drinking an amount that exceeds this may overwhelm the kidneys and put the electrolyte balance out of sync in the human body.

Electrolytes, especially sodium, are essential in maintaining fluid balance within and outside cells. Hyponatremia is the condition when sodium levels fall below 135 mmol/L, resulting from excessive water intake. This causes water to shift into cells, swelling them. In the brain, this can cause severe complications, including coma or even death.

Symptoms of Water Intoxication

The symptoms of water intoxication vary from mild to severe. Early symptoms are often similar to dehydration, which makes self-diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle cramps or weakness
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Confusion and disorientation

In more serious cases, water intoxication can cause seizures, loss of consciousness, or swelling in the brain. These complications can be fatal if left untreated.

A notable case occurred in 2007 when a woman participating in a water-drinking contest tragically died after consuming nearly two gallons of water in under two hours. More recently, actress Brooke Shields experienced a grand mal seizure attributed to excessive water consumption.

Causes of Water Intoxication

Water intoxication is rare, but certain scenarios can increase the risk:

1. Sporting Events and Endurance Training

These endurance athletes are prone to water intoxication, especially if they drink large amounts of water without replacing lost electrolytes. Hyponatremia usually happens during long races or marathons as individuals mistake fatigue and muscle cramps for dehydration and continue drinking water in excess.

2. Military Training

Overhydration among military personnel is usually due to severe physical activity in extreme environmental conditions. The total number of hyponatremia cases documented from 2007 through 2022 for the active duty in the United States exceeds 1,600, with a note to this problem on exertion-related overhydration.

3. Mental Health Conditions

Compulsive water drinking, known as psychogenic polydipsia, is linked with some mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and psychosis. People with these conditions tend to drink too much water, causing a hazardous electrolyte imbalance.

4. Drug Abuse

Drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) raise the body temperature and make people thirsty, and at times, some people tend to drink excess water at events like music festivals. MDMA also leads to urine retention, thus exacerbating the dangers of water intoxication.

How Much Water Is Too Much?

The exact amount of water that causes intoxication varies from one person to another. However, drinking more than 1 liter of water per hour for several hours raises the risk. For healthy individuals, the risk of overhydration is low unless taking part in extreme physical activity or ignoring thirst cues.

Certain medical conditions, such as kidney or liver disorders, can impair the body's ability to process fluids, and even moderate water intake may be harmful. Similarly, certain medications, such as diuretics and antipsychotics, can affect the perception of thirst or fluid regulation.

How Much Water Is Enough?

The widely touted recommendation of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day has little basis in fact. According to the National Academy of Medicine, a daily total fluid intake is about 15 cups (3.7 liters) for males and 11 cups (2.7 liters) for females, from beverage sources and from food. Usually, about 20 percent of daily hydration comes from foods such as fruits and vegetables.

A better rule of thumb is to listen to your body and drink water based on thirst. Use the color of your urine as an indicator:

• Light yellow urine indicates proper hydration.
• Dark yellow urine may indicate dehydration.

Older adults, whose thirst mechanisms may decline with age, should be proactive about maintaining hydration, especially during illness or hot weather.

Water Intoxication vs. Dehydration

The symptoms of water intoxication—such as headaches, fatigue, and muscle weakness—are similar to those of dehydration. If you are unsure which condition you are experiencing, seek medical attention immediately rather than self-treating with more water.

Preventing Water Intoxication

To avoid the dangers of overhydration:

• Drink water gradually throughout the day rather than consuming large amounts at once.
• Replace lost electrolytes post high-intensity exercise or heavy sweating.
• Consider using sports drinks or salty snacks to help replenish sodium.
• Keep track of fluid consumption during long-duration activities, and do not consume more water than the body is losing in terms of electrolytes.
• If on medications or have specific medical conditions, check with your doctor regarding the safety of drinking water.

For signs of severe water intoxication-including confusion, drowsiness, seizures, and loss of consciousness-customer is advised to seek medical assistance immediately. In the meanwhile, a salty snack would help to temporarily correct low sodium levels.

Hydration is important to health, but overhydration can be a serious risk; the secret is in finding a balance. Drink enough water to satisfy your body, but not so much that it overwhelms your system. Remember, water is life, but moderation keeps it that way.

Hyponatremia (low sodium level in the blood). National Kidney Foundation. 2023.

Water Toxicity. NIH. 2023

Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia: 2017 Update. Front Med (Lausanne). 2017

Update: Exertional Hyponatremia Among Active Component Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, 2007–2022

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a condition that is hereditary and causes nerve cells in specific parts of the brain to slowly deteriorate and die. The disorder affects regions responsible for controlled and intentional movements, as well as those tied to mood, thinking, and personality. People with HD often develop jerky, dance-like body movements known as chorea, along with unusual postures and emotional or cognitive changes. For instance, they may experience sudden, uncontrollable motions in their hands, feet, face, or torso. These movements tend to worsen when the person feels anxious or distracted, and as the disease advances, they become more frequent and harder to manage.

Is Huntington’s Disease Genetic?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Huntington’s disease is passed down genetically from parent to child. It follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, meaning that only one copy of the faulty gene is enough to cause the illness. If a parent carries the gene, every child has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it. As it is known to be dominant, just one altered gene from either parent can trigger the disease.

The institute further explains that children who do not receive the mutated gene will never develop HD and cannot pass it on to their own children.

What Causes Huntington’s Disease?

Huntington’s disease stems from a mutation in the HTT gene. This defect creates an abnormal stretch in the DNA sequence, called an expanded CAG repeat. The mutation leads to the production of a faulty version of the huntingtin protein, which contains an excessively long polyglutamine chain.

Over time, this unstable protein builds up in the brain and damages nerve cells. As the mutation is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, one copy of the defective gene is enough to cause the disorder.

Huntington’s Disease Can Now Be Treated With Gene Therapy

A new gene therapy treatment has shown promise in slowing the course of Huntington’s disease, marking what could be the first meaningful advance against this inherited brain disorder. In a recent clinical trial involving 29 patients in the early stages of HD, those who received a single, high-dose infusion of the therapy directly into the brain experienced a 75 percent slower progression over three years compared with the control group.

The results, shared by the Amsterdam-based gene therapy company uniQure, were considered statistically significant across several clinical measures. Researchers also found lower levels of a harmful protein linked to brain cell damage in the spinal fluid of participants who received the treatment. Encouraged by these results, uniQure has announced plans to seek regulatory approval next year.

“This gene therapy represents a major step forward,” said Dr. Sandra Kostyk, a neurologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and one of the study’s investigators. “The data are encouraging.”

She added that while slowing the illness could mean more years of independence for patients, it is not a cure. Because of the small number of participants, more research and long-term follow-up are still needed.

Huntington’s Disease Symptoms You Need to Be Aware Of

People with Huntington’s disease often lose control over their voluntary movements, which can affect daily functioning more severely than the involuntary jerks caused by chorea. Difficulties with voluntary movement can make it harder to work, communicate, and maintain independence.

According to the National Health Service, early signs may include trouble focusing or organizing tasks, forgetfulness, irritability, impulsive behavior, and changes in mood such as depression or anxiety. Other symptoms include small, uncontrollable jerks or twitches, clumsiness, and problems managing muscles.

Interestingly, symptoms can appear at any age but most often begin in a person’s 30s or 40s. When it develops before the age of 20, it is called juvenile Huntington’s disease. In such early-onset cases, symptoms may differ and the illness usually progresses more rapidly.

Health experts are raising alarms over a disturbing new trend in which drug users exchange blood to experience a shared high. Known as “bluetoothing,” this new practice is driving a sharp increase in HIV infections in regions such as Fiji and South Africa. Doctors warn that the recent rise in reported cases may only reveal a fraction of the potential damage linked to this dangerous act, which is also called “hotspotting.” But what exactly is behind this risky phenomenon, and why is it spreading?

What Is Bluetoothing and How Is It Linked to Rising HIV Cases?

Bluetoothing is a hazardous street practice where a person injects a potent drug such as heroin or meth, then withdraws a small amount of their own blood, now mixed with the drug, into a syringe and injects it into someone else to share the high. This process can continue from one person to the next, often using the same needle.

According to Brian Zanoni, a professor at Emory University who has studied drug-injecting behavior in South Africa, “it’s a cheap way to get high, but it comes with serious consequences as you’re essentially getting two doses for the price of one.” However, experts note that the effectiveness of this method is uncertain. Some believe the secondary injection produces only a mild high, while others argue it is just a placebo affect.

Why Is Bluetoothing So Dangerous for Health?

The idea of passing around drug-laced blood is so shockingly unsafe that for years, health professionals questioned whether it actually happened. Yet even if practiced by a small number of people, it can rapidly spread bloodborne diseases like HIV and hepatitis, prompting calls for an urgent public health response.

In Fiji, authorities have identified bluetoothing as a key factor behind an alarming rise in HIV rates. According to UNAIDS data, new HIV infections there increased tenfold between 2014 and 2024, leading to an official outbreak declaration in January.

About half of newly diagnosed individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment in Fiji reported contracting HIV through needle sharing, though it remains unclear how many knowingly exchanged blood. Most of these new cases were among people aged 15 to 34.

How Dangerous Is HIV and What Are Its Stages?

Without treatment, HIV gradually weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to serious infections. Over time, untreated HIV can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The progression of HIV occurs in three key stages for people who are not on treatment:

Acute HIV Infection

This first stage usually appears two to four weeks after exposure. Many people experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, rash, and headache. During this phase, the virus multiplies quickly and attacks the immune system’s CD4 cells, leading to a very high viral load and increased risk of transmission.

Chronic HIV Infection

In this second stage, the virus continues to replicate at low levels. People often do not show symptoms, but without antiretroviral therapy (ART), this stage can advance to AIDS within a decade or sooner. With proper treatment, individuals can live in this stage for many years.

AIDS

The final and most severe stage occurs when the immune system is badly damaged. The body becomes unable to fight off infections and certain cancers. A diagnosis of AIDS is made when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mm³ or specific infections appear. At this stage, the viral load is high and transmission risk increases sharply. Without treatment, life expectancy is typically around three years.

Since “bluetoothing” is not a wireless or digital act but an extreme form of intravenous drug use, protection begins with avoiding environments where it might occur. The safest approach is never to start injecting drugs. Acknowledge that this practice is real and extremely dangerous, rather than dismissing it as an online rumor, especially in communities where drug abuse and poverty are common.

Scientists at Northwestern Medicine have made a major discovery: a much better and faster way to help bones heal. They wrote about their work in the science journal Nature Communications. We have always known that the loss of bones and teeth can be a permanent one, while we have artificial methods to fix the irregularities, we can no longer grow this tissue back.

However, this new method is very exciting because it could totally change how doctors create implants, the plates, screws, or replacement parts used in surgery. The main goal is to improve healing by getting the body to use its own natural tools to repair itself.

Can We Regrow Our Bones?

Guillermo Ameer, ScD, the lead researcher, believes this technique could revolutionize surgeries for bones and joints, (orthopedic) and for the face and skull (craniofacial). Instead of just being a passive structure, these new implants actively encourage healing using the body's own cells and repair mechanisms.

Dr. Ameer noted that damage from injuries is very common. Usually, doctors put in artificial materials like metal or plastic to fill the gap. He explained that their work, called regenerative medicine, is focused on helping the body regrow its own natural tissue to fix the damaged area permanently.

Can We Use Cells To Rebuild Bones?

Dr. Ameer’s team had previously developed a unique implant. Its surface isn't smooth; it has tiny, engineered micropillars (small bumps). When special repair cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) stick to the implant, these tiny bumps physically push on and change the shape of the cell's center, called the nucleus.

The big new finding from this latest study is that these cells—whose nuclei have been squished—start to release special healing proteins. These proteins actively promote bone growth in other nearby cells, not just the ones touching the implant.

How Can You Regrow Bones?

In their most recent experiment, the scientists watched closely to see exactly how the new implants caused bone to grow. They found that when the MSCs had their nuclei changed by the micropillars, they quickly increased their release of proteins that organize the extracellular matrix (ECM). Scaffolding is the process of construction where a temporary structure is made to support the workers while they do the construction. The ECM is basically the natural, supportive scaffolding around all tissues in the body

This newly organized scaffolding then tells other nearby MSCs to start making bone, even if they aren't directly on the implant. It's like a secret instruction being passed through the structural environment.

To test this in a real situation, the team placed the micropillar implants into mice with small holes in their skull bones. They saw that the cells on the implants made much more of a key protein called collagen, which is the main building block of bone structure. The result was significantly faster and better bone healing in the injured area.

What Is Cellular Communication?

These results show a special way cells talk to each other, called matricrine signaling. Instead of using direct contact or typical chemical messages, cells influence their neighbors by changing the extracellular matrix which is the scaffolding around them.

Dr. Ameer explained that when a cell's nucleus is deformed, its internal structure is rearranged. This makes the cell favor the production and release of proteins that tell other cells, "Start making bone!" He clarified that these released proteins actually change the environment (the matrix) surrounding nearby cells, instructing them to support new bone growth. This discovery opens up huge possibilities for designing implants that don't just act as supports, but actively guide and speed up the natural healing process.

Dr. Ameer also mentioned that this idea might be useful for repairing other tissues in the future, such as cartilage.

He stressed that losing cartilage, particularly in conditions like arthritis, is a major issue because the body has trouble regrowing it on its own. He noted that his team is already working on ways to use 3D printing to apply a similar strategy and help the body regenerate damaged cartilage.