A Harvard doctor has claimed that drinking too much water is not always safe and can lead to a potentially fatal illness.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Saurabh Sethi has gone viral online several times after revealing his knowledge about the digestive system.
In a recent clip that has racked up more than 319,000 views, he revealed the dangers of drinking excessive amounts of water.
It begins by saying, “If you think drinking lots of water is always safe, maybe you should think again.”
The 42-year-old explains that there is a condition called water intoxication, in which excess water accumulates in the brain, which can be very dangerous.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, has gone viral online several times after revealing his insights and knowledge about the digestive system.
In a clip that has racked up more than 319,000 views, he revealed the dangers of drinking excessive amounts of water. It begins by saying, “If you think drinking lots of water is always safe, you might want to think again.”
The 42-year-old explains that there is a condition called water intoxication, where excess water accumulates in the brain, which can be very dangerous.
Dr Sethi, from California, USA, continues: ‘This occurs when you have low levels of electrolytes, particularly sodium.
“If you exercise a lot and lose a lot of salt through sweat, drinking a large amount of water simultaneously can be risky.”
The medical term for this condition is hyponatremia, and in this case, water dilutes electrolytes, such as sodium, which can potentially lead to further dehydration.
Fatal cases of water poisoning have been in the news in the past. In August 2023, an Indiana mother sadly died after drinking too much water during a hot summer over the Fourth of July weekend.
Ashley Summers’ brother claimed his sister was suffering from severe dehydration and drank four bottles of water in just 30 minutes, causing her brain tissue to swell.
To avoid this, Dr. Sethi says heavy water drinkers should add electrolyte powder or a pinch of salt to a glass of water to help maintain balance.
Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions to her claims, and many people were surprised.
To prevent water poisoning, he says heavy water drinkers should add electrolyte powder or a pinch of salt to a glass of water to help maintain balance.
“Right now, we don’t even know what to do and what we can’t do,” one user commented.
Roy said: ‘We can’t even drink much water now. Is there anything left that humans can drink and eat?
“But water is life,” another person added.
Maryanne said: ‘Oh my God, what’s next!
“At this point, I don’t even know if breathing is good or not,” someone else commented.
Dr. Sethi has 456,000 followers on TikTok and previously made headlines when he shared a shocking warning to women who drink diet soda, explaining that those who do so are at significantly increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
His claim was based on a study published in 2019 by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, which linked the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages with an increase in these diseases in women over 50, according to CNN.
And interestingly, the risk of having a heart attack or stroke was higher in women who had no history of heart disease or diabetes, the outlet reported.
Dr. Sethi also stated that drinking diet soda could also be linked to kidney disease.
“The high phosphorus content in diet sodas may contribute to chronic kidney disease,” he said in the video.
Dr. Sethi also stated that drinking diet soda could also be linked to kidney disease. “The high phosphorus content in diet sodas may contribute to chronic kidney disease,” he said in the video.
Dr. Sethi has 456,000 followers on TikTok and previously made headlines when he shared a shocking warning to women who drink diet soda, explaining that those who do so are at significantly increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
His claim is supported by the National Kidney Foundation, which cited a study that found that drinking two or more diet sodas a day can cause kidney damage.
The study evaluated a group of women who had healthy, functional kidneys at the start of the trial.
However, they found that people who drank diet soda experienced a three-fold greater decrease in their glomerular filtration rate (something that can help measure how well the kidneys are working) than those who didn’t drink diet soda.
During the study, there was an obvious link between kidney function and diet soda consumption, which is why the National Kidney Foundation recommends drinking water.
The doctor also said that diet sodas can “increase cravings for high-calorie foods, disrupting appetite control.”