Water intoxication, also known as water poisoning or dilutional hyponatremia, is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by overhydration.
Under normal circumstances, accidentally consuming too much water is exceptionally rare. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests in which individuals attempt to consume large amounts of water, or from long bouts of exercise during which excessive amounts of fluid were consumed.[1] Moreover, water cure, a method of torture in which the victim is forced to consume excessive amounts of water, can cause water intoxication.
Water, just like any other substance, can be considered a poison when over-consumed in a specific period of time. Water intoxication mostly occurs when water is being consumed in a high quantity without giving the body the proper nutrients it needs to be healthy, but even healthy people can get water intoxication.[2]
Excess of body water may also be a result of a medical condition or improper treatment; see “hyponatremia” for some examples. Water is considered the least toxic chemical compound, with an LD50 of over 90 ml/kg in rats.[3]
Good golly man. You’d have to drink over a gallon and a half in less than an hour to over hydrate like that and be largely inactive. When we were in the desert (USMC) we’d have the new guys drink at least a quarter of a gallon before doing anything and do that at least four times a day. Of course they were working and it was 120.
The article is correct but comes up short. It is not just children, most PEOPLE are dehydrated especially when you consider all the diuretics they drink. General rule, for every ounce of diuretic (tea, coffee, soda, any caffeine, alcohol, etc.) you should drink an ounce of water.