Water is a substance that people cannot live without, but drinking too much water can also cause health problems. Similarly, salt is often regarded as a product that causes or increases the risk of certain diseases, but eliminating salt from one’s diet is also dangerous (George et al., 2018). Hyponatremia is a condition that describes not only water intoxication but the level of sodium concentration in one’s blood. Many causes of hyponatremia exist, including chronic and severe illnesses that cannot be regulated by drinking less water. In some cases, the body cannot regulate salt and water levels, requiring medical assistance.
The most obvious cause of water intoxication is drinking too much water. In such cases, a person rapidly increases their water intake, which lowers the level of sodium in the blood, resulting in serious damage to one’s brain and potentially leading to death (NBC News, 2007). Other causes include taking medications that increase the loss of sodium – diuretics (Peri, 2019). Furthermore, some illnesses result in the incorrect production of hormones responsible for balancing water and sodium levels. They include a range of kidney, liver, and heart diseases (Peri, 2019). Endocrine disorders can induce hyponatremia if they affect the production of related hormones as well. Moreover, diarrhea, sweating, and vomiting can also lead to hyponatremia because a person loses electrolytes quicker than water (Saladin, 2021). Some drugs, such as ecstasy, also lead to low sodium levels (Peri, 2019). Therefore, natural reasons exist for this condition, and a person may start experiencing water intoxication even if they do not drink more than usual.
The body responds to hyponatremia in the form of neurologic and endocrine changes. The cells swell with water, and the brain tries to protect itself from edema. Hyponatremia causes the stimulation of the adrenal cortex, which increases the output of aldosterone (Saladin, 2021). Aldosterone is responsible for managing the water and salt ratio in the blood – the increased production of this hormone helps the body to retain the sodium that is still present. Moreover, if the cause of this condition is tied to water overconsumption, this excess water is excreted to balance the water-salt levels.
However, if the cause of hyponatremia is tied to diseases that affect the adrenal glands, then the body may be unable to compensate for low sodium levels without help. Furthermore, as some conditions that cause water intoxication do not involve water consumption, the person cannot excrete excess water as well. In these cases, medical treatment is urgently required – the salt level in one’s blood is increased intravenously (George et al., 2018). According to George et al. (2018), rapid correction is dangerous and may result in an increased risk of brain damage. In situations where an underlying condition influences people’s hormone production, intravenous fluids are not enough. As their body consistently cannot balance sodium or water levels, these individuals need to resolve and manage their other health problems. For instance, if one’s kidneys retain too much water, the body will not be able to compensate without treating the cause. This process may include removing a tumor, reducing or switching medications, changing one’s lifestyle, treating an infection, and more.
Hyponatremia or water intoxication is a problem that can develop because of many conditions and events. If a person simply drinks too much water, the body can regulate its sodium level by producing more aldosterone. However, many cases require medical help as the risk of brain damage is high. Moreover, many underlying conditions do not allow the body to compensate for its low sodium. Therefore, hyponatremia is often connected to other diseases and problems and requires a rapid but careful response.
References
George, J. C., Zafar, W., Bucaloiu, I. D., & Chang, A. R. (2018). Risk factors and outcomes of rapid correction of severe hyponatremia. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 13(7), 984-992.
NBC News. (2007). Woman dies after water-drinking contest. Web.
Peri, A. (2019). Management of hyponatremia: Causes, clinical aspects, differential diagnosis and treatment.Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 14(1), 13-21. Web.
Saladin, K. S. (2021). Anatomy & physiology: The unity of form and function (9th ed.). McGraw Hill.