I think with water intoxication, the amount you drink is secondary to how fast you drink it. Your kidney's can filter .9-1.5L/hr. I think you're in trouble if you're drinking more than that per hour.
Correct - the "theme" of the contest was to drink as many bottled waters as possible WITHOUT going to "empty your bladder." Big no-no.
It's sad what people will do to themselves for money or prizes.
A week from today I will be taking a pelvic sonogram. I need to drink 32 ozs. of water within 1/2 of the test without peeing. And then get through the exam, without peeing. I'm not sure how I'm gonna do it without bursting. But I suppose I have no choice.
This woman was from my town What's really sad, is if you listen to the audio clips of the show, the DJ's were warned a few times, and even questioned the safety of the contest themselves, in a joking manner. The woman told the DJ's when she conceded and agreed to the second prize that her head hurt really bad and she was feeling light-headed and sick. No criminal charges have been filed yet, but ten people, including five on-air personalities have been fired. Everyone here is wondering why the general manager hasn't been fired for allowing such a stupid, dangerous contest. It's not like it hasn't been local news before -- in 2005 a local fraternity pledge died during hazing from water intoxication, too.
Doing just about ANYthing is excess in no good. There are limits to EVERYTHING. Even healthy things. When will people learn? How sad this women had to die.
Update: The radio station fired 10 people and took the morning show off the air. according to Yahoo news.
Robin I had to do that when I was pg for an early u/s but I had to drink 2 liters of water an HOUR before the exam. THat was PURE He!!
yeah my first pg they made me drink some ridiculous amount before each ultrasound and hold it and all 3 times they took a peek and said my bladder was too full and made me go " a little bit". which was harder than holding it.
2nd pregnancyI drank the water but when I had to pee I did, just a bit and kept drinking and that worked better.
I've had plenty of sonograms while pregnant and they always told me I hadn't had ENOUGH to drink and sent me back to the water fountain. Yuck. Not looking forward to next Wed. Not even a little bit.
It will dilute drug traces yes, but most drugscreens will either pick up the trace amounts, or if you successfully dilute your urine to the point that it couldnt (i.e. you are peeing out nearly pure water), the other components of urine will be so diluted that most reliable drugscreeners will catch that it is an overly dilute sample and flag for retesting.
Now that makes perfect sense. I know I've consumed large amounts of water and had the color change, but never to the point of looking like plain water.
I've had plenty of sonograms while pregnant and they always told me I hadn't had ENOUGH to drink and sent me back to the water fountain. Yuck. Not looking forward to next Wed. Not even a little bit.
I had to have a ultrasound to check for cysts and they let me "empty my bladder" half way through the visit. The technician couldn't see what she needed to with the over-the-belly wand, so she had to use the other kind. I guess you don't have to have a full bladder when they use the wand that they insert in that area. Either way it is no fun! I hope they get you into the exam room really fast!
I listened to some of the broadcast on John and Ken, down here on KFI, on my way home this evening. People did call in and warn them the dangers but, as with most of the idiotic out for ratings "zoo" morning shows, the contestants and the DJ's just joked it off. It is just a darn shame this young women died and that all the folks at the radio station will have to "live' with that the rest of their lives. Seriously though I think radio stations will sit back and take a look at this and consider changing their formats..........UNTIL THE RATINGS COME OUT AGAIN!!! Then back to the same old stuff....my wife listens to the "zoo" type stuff in the morning...as for me....give me the news and traffic and keep those LAUGHS to yourselves!! Drives me nuts!!....ahhh...another grumpy 'ol man!
I'm also from the town where this took place (Sacramento). It was sad to think that this woman did all this just to win her children a Nintendo video game station.
When the nurse called in to warn them that people could die from water poisoning, the DJ said very lightheartedly "Well that's why they sign waivers, we are not responsible" and moved on as if the nurse was being a downer.
That family is going to sue the bejeezus out of that station, I bet you anything. I don't like frivolous lawsuits, but these people were completely irresponsible. Yes, she chose to do what she did unfortunately - but another contestant said that they were never warned about the dangers of the water poisoning, that the message from that nurse who called, was never passed on to them. Would she still have gone through with it if she'd heard the warning? Who knows.
I wonder if the woman was on any psychiatric meds or had an underlying health condition. It would be odd that someone in good health would have died from that. Even after emptying her bladder, her body should have been able to fix her sodium level. It would be interesting to see if they release any of her medical history.
I wonder if the woman was on any psychiatric meds or had an underlying health condition. It would be odd that someone in good health would have died from that. Even after emptying her bladder, her body should have been able to fix her sodium level. It would be interesting to see if they release any of her medical history.
No, it is very possible for a completely healthy person to die from water poisoning. The body cant fix it fast enough, when sodium levels drop you get pressure on the brain which causes it to not function properly and too low sodium and potassium causes heart attacks.
The only thing that fixes it is rapid infusion of sodium and potassium.
The person who won probably was larger or had more sodium/potassium to start with.
My mother was hospitalized last year for water intoxication, and it was a week before they were able to stabilize her electrolytes enough to release her. Except for mild high blood pressure, she was in good health and was drinking less than a gallon a day (probably closer to 3 quarts).
I had always understood water intoxication to be nearly impossible, but the kidney specialist called in on the case, said that while Mom's mild blood pressure medication had contributed to the water intoxication, he said he is seeing it more often in completely healthy, unmedicated, people because of the popularity of diets that push heavy water intake, and myths like caffeinated beverages "not counting" toward fluid intake. He said there was no good reason for the average person to drink more than 2 quarts of liquids (including caffeinated beverages).
I don't think that your bladder can "fix" an electroyte imbalance. Free ions are required in certain concentrations to make your nervous system work (Calcium, sodium, potassium, etc.). Electrolyte imbalances can result from exercising strenuously and not replenishing them (which is why marathon runners don't drink straight water, but have fluids that replace electrolytes). Imbalances can also result from vomiting/diarrhea especially in children (hence the use of Pedialyte in such cases instead of water in dehydrated kids when they are sick). Excess water, usually drunk really quickly, will also result in an imbalance which can kill you. I believe the woman involved drank 8 liters of water in less than two hours. Result - her electrolyte concentrations were thrown off, her nervous system shut down, and her heart didn't pump anymore (too few electrolytes in her system to maintain the chemical reactions required to keep her heart beating). Preexisting medical conditions can make you more apt to have electrolyte imbalances, such as kidney disease, so less water is required to dilute your necessary electrolytes to the point of creating a crisis.
Personally, I think that the term "water intoxication" should be changed, as most people equate "intoxicated" with "drunk" or "impaired", which is not the case. Poor woman...
What's really sad, is if you listen to the audio clips of the show, the DJ's were warned a few times, and even questioned the safety of the contest themselves, in a joking manner. The woman told the DJ's when she conceded and agreed to the second prize that her head hurt really bad and she was feeling light-headed and sick. No criminal charges have been filed yet, but ten people, including five on-air personalities have been fired. Everyone here is wondering why the general manager hasn't been fired for allowing such a stupid, dangerous contest. It's not like it hasn't been local news before -- in 2005 a local fraternity pledge died during hazing from water intoxication, too. 
