A Harvard doctor has claimed that drinking a lot of water is not always safe and could lead to a potentially fatal condition.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, has gone viral online several times after revealing his insight and knowledge about the digestive system.
In a recent clip that has been viewed more than 319,000 times, he revealed the dangers of drinking excessive amounts of water.
He begins by saying, “If you think drinking lots of water is always safe, maybe think again.”
The 42-year-old explains that there is a condition called water intoxication, where excess water builds up in the brain, which can be very dangerous.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, has gone viral online several times after revealing his insight and knowledge about the digestive system
In a clip that has been viewed more than 319,000 times, he reveals the dangers of drinking excessive amounts of water. He 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 builds up in the brain, which can be very dangerous
Dr. Sethi, from California, USA, continues: ‘This occurs when you have a deficiency of electrolytes, especially sodium.
‘If you exercise heavily and lose a lot of salt through sweating, it can be risky to drink a large amount of water at the same time.’
The medical term for the condition is hyponatremia, and in this case water dilutes electrolytes, such as sodium, potentially leading to further dehydration.
Fatal cases of water intoxication have made headlines before. In August 2023, an Indiana mother sadly died after drinking too much water during a hot summer over the 4th of July weekend.
Ashley Summers’ brother claimed his sister suffered from severe dehydration and drank four bottles of water in just 30 minutes, causing the tissue in her brain to swell.
To prevent this, Dr. claims. Sethi says that heavy water drinkers should add electrolyte powder or a pinch of salt to a glass of water to help maintain balance.
Users have flocked to the comments section to share their reactions to his claims, leaving many people shocked.
To prevent water intoxication, he claims that heavy water drinkers should add electrolyte powder or a pinch of salt to a glass of water to maintain balance.
“Right now we don’t even know what to do and what not to do,” one user commented.
Roy said, “Now we can’t even drink much water. Is there anything else that man can drink and eat?’
“But water is life,” another person added.
Maryanne said: ‘Omg, what now!
“Right now I don’t even know if breathing is okay 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 face a significantly higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
His statement was based on a study published in 2019 by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, which linked the use of artificially sweetened beverages to an increase in these diseases in women over 50, according to CNN.
And interestingly, the risk of heart attack or stroke was highest in women who had no history of heart disease or diabetes, the paper reported.
Dr. Sethi also claimed that drinking diet soda can also be linked to kidney disease.
“The high phosphorus content in diet soda may contribute to chronic kidney disease,” he said in the video.
Dr. Sethi also claimed that drinking diet soda can also be linked to kidney disease. “The high phosphorus content in diet soda 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 face a significantly higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
His claim is supported by the National Kidney Foundation, which cited a study showing that drinking two or more diet sodas per day can cause damage to the kidneys.
The study tested a group of women who all had healthy, functioning kidneys at the start of the trial.
However, they found that people who drank diet soda experienced a three times greater drop in their glomerular filtration rate – something that can help measure how well your kidneys are working – than those who did not drink diet soda.
During the study, there was a clear link between kidney function and diet soda consumption – which is why the National Kidney Foundation recommends drinking water instead.
The doctor also said that diet sodas “may increase cravings for high-calorie foods, interfering with appetite control.”