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

Four years after suffering from a rare neurological condition known as Stiff-Person Syndrome, Céline Dion, known for power ballads like My Heart Will Go On and Because You Loved Me, has announced her return to the stage.

The incurable condition had affected her singing voice and even her ability to walk.

In a message on her Instagram page, the singer announced plans to play a 10-night residency at the 40,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena in September and October.

Calling her comeback "the best gift of my life", 58-year-old Dion said: "I'm doing great, managing my health, feeling good. I'm singing again, even doing a little bit of dancing.

"I'm so ready to do this. I'm feeling good, I'm strong, I'm feeling excited, obviously, [and] of course, a little nervous," she said, while thanking her fans for the “prayers and support, kindness and love”.

What Is Stiff Person Syndrome

Stiff-Person Syndrome is a neurological disease caused by the signals from the nerves to the muscles not working properly. It affects an estimated 8,000 people worldwide.

It is also an autoimmune is a neurological disease caused by the signals from the nerves to the muscles not working properly. It affects an estimated 8,000 people worldwide.

It is also an autoimmune condition, that is linked to diseases such as type 1 diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.

For some, it can be debilitating. SPS is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time. There is no known cure.

Common symptoms may include:

• Stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs
• Greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms

The condition is also more common among women than men, and affects people between the ages of 20 and 60.

While there is no known cure for SPS, current treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can help manage the symptoms.

Stiff-Person Syndrome: Celine Dion’s Diagnosis

Dion announced her diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in December 2022 in an emotional Instagram video. The condition had affected "every aspect of my daily life", she told her fans.

The best-selling artists of all time began noticing her symptoms, such as feeling "a little spasm" while performing on stage. She found her “voice was struggling", BBC reported.

Even though she experimented with her singing to ease the stress on her vocal cords, her condition worsened. She also began facing difficulties while walking.

"It's like somebody is strangling you. It's like somebody is pushing your larynx [or] pharynx," she told NBC News.

Determined to get back on her feet and sing, worked "all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team", French Vogue magazine reported.

"Five days a week, I undergo athletic, physical, and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice."

The intense workouts enabled her to make a comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics, singing Edith Piaf's classic Hymne à l'Amour from the Eiffel Tower.

While a hickey is generally harmless, in several shocking incidents, it has led to strokes and even death.

A hickey is typically a dark red or dark purple mark on your skin caused by intense suction.

According to health experts, the strong suction from the passionate love bite leads to blood clots that travel to the brain. It then blocks a vital artery and causes a embolic stroke.

Embolic stroke is a type of ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot or debris (embolus) that forms elsewhere in the body—often the heart—and travels through the bloodstream to block a blood vessel in the brain.

The Independent reported the case of 17-year-old Julio Macias Gonzalez, who suffered convulsions while eating dinner with his family after hanging out with his 24-year-old girlfriend and later died.

In a similar case reported from New Zealand, a 44-year-old woman suffered a stroke following a hickey.

While non-fatal, the 2010 study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal reported the medical condition “a rare phenomenon.”

In yet another case, the Danish Medical Journal reported the incident of a 35-year-old woman who experienced a sudden onset of right-sided weakness due to a left middle cerebral artery stroke 12 hours after she had obtained a love bite on the left side of her neck.

“Generally speaking, hickeys are simply superficial bruising, and there’s no scientific evidence available that could inform our thinking about this situation as it relates to stroke,” Teresa Roncon, spokeswoman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, was quoted as saying Global News.

Is It Lethal?

While it's generally harmless, in some extreme cases, it can raise the risk of damaging the carotid or vertebral artery due to extreme pressure.

The carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, are responsible for supplying blood to the head, including the brain. Vigorous manipulation of the neck, including the action of a hickey, can cause the inner wall of the carotid artery to rupture. (This process is medically termed as carotid artery dissection).

Such a dissection is a nidus, a place where bacteria can multiply, for the formation of a blood clot. The blood clot can then get dislodged and enter the brain circulation, eventually causing a stroke.

How Can A Hickey Go Wrong?

While there is nothing wrong with giving or receiving love bites, it is imperative to note that one should not dig their teeth too deeply into the other person's neck to avoid injury and damage to sensitive structures like the carotid artery or the jugular vein (a vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the skull to the body).

While there are practically no ways to cure a hickey, you can speed up the healing process. These processes can help you expedite the process:

• Alternate Cold and Warm Compresses
• Avoid Worsening The Hickey
• Massage The Area
• Use Topical Creams.

Ten-year-old Myla from the UK's North Yorkshire, with severe eye strain, was diagnosed with a severe brain tumor that led to her death.

The young girl had been suffering from headaches and dizziness, which were dismissed as mere eye strain due to playing on her iPad too much.

Thinking that she needed eyeglasses, her parents took her for an eye appointment, where she was diagnosed with an aggressive diffuse midline glioma — a type of brain tumor.

Myla was diagnosed with a 7-10cm tumor and was rushed to Sheffield Children's Hospital for an operation to remove 60 per cent of the mass. The youngster underwent a grueling 30 rounds of radiotherapy but tragically passed away on January 15, The Mirror.co.uk reported.

Can Eye Strains Lead To Brain Tumors?

Healthandme spoke to health experts to understand the role of eye strain and brain tumors.

The health experts noted that although prolonged exposure to digital screens can raise the risk of vision problems, they cannot cause brain tumors.

"Eye strain is most commonly linked to prolonged screen use, poor ergonomics, or uncorrected vision, and in the vast majority of cases, it is not a sign of brain cancer," Dr. Parul Maheshwari Sharma, Ophthalmologist and Principal Director & HOD - at Fortis Gurugram, told HealthandMe.

"The likelihood of experiencing eye strain being an indication of brain cancer is minimal," added Dr. Mahipal Singh Sachdev, Chairman & Medical Director, Centre For Sight Group of Eye Hospitals.

The doctors explained that brain tumors are rarely present as simple eye strain; they are usually associated with additional symptoms such as:

• persistent headaches,
• double vision,
• vision loss,
• vomiting,
• neurological deficits.
• convulsions,
• vision changes.

What Is Eye Strain?

Eye strain, also referred to as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, is caused by staring at screens for extended periods of time and decreased blinking.

It generally occurs due to benign factors such as excessive screen time, dry eye, or uncorrected vision.

While prolonged screen use can cause discomfort, dry eyes, and temporary blurred vision, it does not lead to the development of cancer.

"There is no evidence to suggest that screen-induced eye strain can cause brain tumors," Dr Sharma said.

"Although there may be visual changes due to a tumor that involves the optic nerve or hypothalamus, simple eye strain is not indicative of brain tumors and would not be considered an early warning of a brain tumor. There is an extremely low probability that eye strain will be due to a brain tumor," Dr. Sachdev told HealthandMe.

However, the experts agreed that long screen time can lead to severe eye strain.

Red Flags One Should Not Ignore For Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are generally attributed to genetics, exposure to radiation, or other unknown factors.

Numerous types of red flags could indicate the presence of a serious neurological disorder. Some examples include

• chronic or worsening headaches, especially if severe in the morning,
• recurrent unexplained vomiting,
• seizure activity,
• sudden changes in vision, such as double vision or complete loss of vision,
• trouble speaking clearly,
• weakness in the arms or legs,
• drastic personality changes.

Higher-risk patients include:

• those with a history of radiation exposure to the brain,
• specific genetic conditions,
• those with a family history of brain cancer.

Also read: 12-Year-Old Teen Dies From Rare Brain Tumor After Unusual Early Signs, Grieving Mother Urges Parents To Watch For Subtle Symptoms

Steps to Reduce Eye Strain

To help combat eye fatigue, individuals can adopt some simple habits, such as

• Following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Place your computer monitor at or below eye level and keep a comfortable distance from the computer.
• Adjust your screen brightness and contrast to comfortable levels and use adequate room lighting.
• Remember to blink often or use artificial tears to keep your eyes moist.
• Take screen breaks, limit the duration of time you are using your computer, or limit the continuous use of your computer.
• Make sure you are using the correct prescription glasses and consider using an anti-glare screen, which can also help relieve discomfort and protect your eyes from long-term effects.