The AFU and Urban Legend Archive
Medical
 water intoxication




From: wsinkins@mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu (William G. Sinkins)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Too much of a good thing
Date: 20 Dec 1993 16:33:50 GMT

A while back someone posted a few questions with regard to statements in the FAQ. As I recall, one of them was about the assertion that you can mess yourself up by drinking too much water. That condition is known as 'water intoxication' and is well-represented in the medical literature. Here are a couple of recent refs:

Tanneau et al. Salt wastage, plasma volume contraction and hypokalemic paralysis in self-induced water intoxication. Nephron 64(4), pp. 570-575, 1993.

Cosgray et al. A program for water-intoxicated patients at a state hospital. Clinical Nurse Specialist 7(2), pp. 55-61, 1993.

Bill 'psychogenic polydipsia' Sinkins


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