Drinking water improperly can lead to water intoxication, mainly caused by the body’s total intake of water significantly more than the amount of discharged.
1. Etiology: including excessive secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), renal dysfunction, water and sodium metabolism disorders.
(1) excessive secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH): common in fear, blood loss, shock and acute infections, etc. Increased secretion of ADH after surgery can last for 12-36h, in which case excessive input of glucose and other non-electrolyte-containing solutions will easily lead to water intoxication.
(2) Renal dysfunction: when patients with acute renal failure, renal dilution and concentration function is impaired, excessive water intake, water intoxication is likely to occur.
(3) Water and sodium metabolism disorders: for patients with severe sodium deficiency or hypotonic dehydration, the extracellular fluid is already in a hypotonic state, and the body increases the reabsorption of water and sodium through compensation and renal tubules, thus causing water intoxication.
2. Symptoms: including acute water intoxication and chronic water intoxication.
(1) Acute water intoxication: the onset of acute water intoxication can lead to headache, vomiting, increased blood pressure, as well as aphasia, delirium, epileptic seizures and other symptoms.
(2) Chronic water intoxication: Mild water overload with only weight gain, when the blood sodium is lower than 125 mmol / L, can appear fatigue, indifference, nausea, loss of appetite and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Therefore, once the symptoms of suspected water intoxication appear, we should go to the hospital in time, and follow the doctor’s instructions to standardize the treatment after a clear diagnosis.