unilad homepage
  • News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Man becomes hospitalized after drinking too much water within five hours

Home> News> Health

Published 17:57 7 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Man becomes hospitalized after drinking too much water within five hours

Medical experts thought John Putnam was having a heart attack

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/John Putnam / Getty Stock Image

Topics: Health, News

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

A man was admitted to hospital with worrying symptoms after drinking too much water.

We're often told of the importance of drinking enough water, but less so about the dangers of drinking too much of it.

Particularly when the temperatures are extremely high, you may be inclined to drink more fluids. And we're often told to lay off the sugary drinks when it's hot, so water is seen as the perfect substitute.

Texas man John Putnam was working as a landscaper when temperatures reached a whopping 100F back in June.

Advert

As a result of his thirsty work, the 74-year-old consumed almost three gallons of water in just a five hour period.

But the massive amounts of water he had consumed in such a short period of time made John feel extremely nauseas and tired.

John Putnam was left hospitalized after drinking lots of water on a hot day. (Facebook/John Putnam)
John Putnam was left hospitalized after drinking lots of water on a hot day. (Facebook/John Putnam)

Come the evening, John was rushed to hospital due to his symptoms progressing into chest pains and breathing difficulties.

Though medical experts believed he was having a heart attack, it turned out he had suffered from water poisoning, a condition that had made him extremely ill.

John told the Wall Street Journal: "I didn't even know there was such a phenomenon. I was really chugging down the water thinking that's what I needed."

Water poisoning, also known as water intoxication, occurs because of too much water in the body and not enough sodium.

According to the Mayo Clinic, when you drink too much water 'your kidneys can't get rid of the excess water'.

"The sodium content of your blood becomes diluted. This is called hyponatremia and it can be life-threatening," the website states.

Meanwhile, Medical News Today adds: "In severe cases, water intoxication can cause seizures, brain damage, a coma, and even death."

Who'd thought you'd get ill from drinking too much water? (Getty Stock Image)
Who'd thought you'd get ill from drinking too much water? (Getty Stock Image)

However, Mayo Clinic does reassure folks that "drinking too much water is rarely a problem for healthy, well-nourished adults."

According to Medical News Today, symptoms of water poisoning include headaches, nausea and vomiting.

More serious symptoms of water intoxication include drowsiness, muscle weakness or cramping, increased blood pressure, double vision, confusion, the inability to identify sensory information and difficulty breathing, according to the website.

Brooke Shields found out the hard way about drinking too much water when she was rushed to hospital last year.

Speaking an interview with Glamour last November, Shields explained she was preparing for the show and drunk 'so much water,' unaware she was 'low in sodium'.

The actor explained how she left her house, made it to the corner, and immediately got confused why she was out there.

Choose your content:

6 mins ago
14 mins ago
15 mins ago
an hour ago
  • Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
    6 mins ago

    All the celebrities calling for closure of ICE Detention Center in open letter

    Many celebrities have signed an open letter calling for an ICE facility to be closed

    Celebrity
  • Getty Stock Image
    14 mins ago

    Most dangerous countries for Americans right now as US issues travel warning

    Since the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran in February, global tensions have been high

    News
  • Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
    15 mins ago

    FIFA boss shares decision on if Iran will be allowed to play in World Cup as war rages on

    Gianni Infantino has said that he's spoken to Iran's soccer players

    News
  • Alain JOCARD / AFP via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Jim Carrey's ex Jenny McCarthy reacts to clone conspiracy after his 'new look'

    McCarthy spoke about Carrey's appearance at an awards show in France

    Celebrity
  • Warning issued over caffeinated drinks after US teen died from drinking too many in just two hours
  • Man, 28, diagnosed with incurable cancer after doctors dismissed symptoms as impact of 'drinking too many sodas'
  • Woman becomes latest victim to die from 'toxic broccoli' sandwich as 17 others are hospitalized
  • Man who vaped for 9 years issues terrifying warning to others after being hospitalized