Friend almost died from “water poisoning.”

[RgrF]

Paul F. wrote:
I can highly recommend the Radio Labs episode, "Rodney vs. Death" - https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/rad...rsus-death

Darn interesting story! And, yeah, don't ever take a bat or other critter bite lightly! The shots aren't as painful as they were "way back when"... but, dying screaming, convulsing, and foaming at the mouth, not knowing where you are, thrashing around in pain? I'd shoot that post-exposure treatment in my eyeball to avoid that.

Thank you. That Radio Lab segment was so illuminating it riveted my attention deficit riddled grandson to his chair, after listening he actually wanted to know more.

[Racer X]

Back when my ex-wife did triathlons, I had to make sure her hydration was balanced. Same with double century bike rides. Interestingly, Gatorade has the completely wrong balance of electrolytes for long term use. A qt while exercising, or mowing on a really hot day is one thing, but well over a gallon in a day is way off. I got the powder, and made it @ 1/3 strength. and filled her hydration bladder with it, and had a frozen dixie cup ice cube of it as some cooling to it as well. A couple gallons of that was OK for her.

[Dennis S]

I was at a restaurant and kept sipping water because the service was taking so long. The more I drank, the more woozy and disoriented I got. That’s when I theorized that increasing your water without increasing your electrolytes made the ratio too light on electrolytes and might be bad for you. But being uneducated in that stuff, that was as far as I got. I’ll ask my friend in the next few days how much water he drank and why so much.

[Diana]

As stated above, too much water without added electrolytes cause problems beyond the need to pee. Too pure water and you will have it rushing into the cells by osmosis, causing swelling and the other noted symptoms. Too much electrolyte will cause water loss (again osmosis) from the cells. Think of it as the water will go from an area of high concentration (of water) to an area of low.

Hyper- is high, and hypo- is low. The thing about salt (sodium chloride,* amongst others) is that it is quite water soluble, and will be carried along by the water. Too much water will dilute it, not enough water leads to higher levels in the body. Sodium ion is needed for muscle and nerve transmission (along with potassium, calcium, and others). Too much water disrupts the balance of these electrolytes. Too little also disrupts.

Gatorade is fine, as long as you recognize that it’s higher in sugar than most realize, and the balance of electrolytes (as Racer X stated above) are off. Most wouldn’t drink it if it was closer to what is needed, as the taste gets worse as you dilute it.

*Sodium chloride is one of a myriads of salts. Table salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). Potassium chloride is also a salt, as is any ionic compound composed of a metal and a nonmetal. I’m referring to the chemical sense of a metal, from the periodic table, and not necessarily iron, copper, etc that most might associate. Yeah, I’m that way. A chemist. ecret:

[DP]

Read a story that advises runners to drink non-alcoholic beer instead of Gatorade. Better electrolyte content and much cheaper!

[RecipeForDisaster]

Diana wrote:
As stated above, too much water without added electrolytes cause problems beyond the need to pee. Too pure water and you will have it rushing into the cells by osmosis, causing swelling and the other noted symptoms. Too much electrolyte will cause water loss (again osmosis) from the cells. Think of it as the water will go from an area of high concentration (of water) to an area of low.

Hyper- is high, and hypo- is low. The thing about salt (sodium chloride,* amongst others) is that it is quite water soluble, and will be carried along by the water. Too much water will dilute it, not enough water leads to higher levels in the body. Sodium ion is needed for muscle and nerve transmission (along with potassium, calcium, and others). Too much water disrupts the balance of these electrolytes. Too little also disrupts.

Gatorade is fine, as long as you recognize that it’s higher in sugar than most realize, and the balance of electrolytes (as Racer X stated above) are off. Most wouldn’t drink it if it was closer to what is needed, as the taste gets worse as you dilute it.

*Sodium chloride is one of a myriads of salts. Table salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). Potassium chloride is also a salt, as is any ionic compound composed of a metal and a nonmetal. I’m referring to the chemical sense of a metal, from the periodic table, and not necessarily iron, copper, etc that most might associate. Yeah, I’m that way. A chemist. ecret:

I do some chemistry in my job, and I just love it anyway. But I’m on a high salt diet and so I drink a homemade electrolyte solution, totaling 4 liters of water a day. There is added sodium, potassium, and magnesium, but no sugar. I crave salt, so it tastes fine to me. It amazes people that some people actually need extra salt. Yes, my BP is low.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Just for electrolytes, dilute Pedialyte Sport is better than dilute Gatorade for most people (some people have a problem with potassium balance). I wish they had it in bulk powder form so there wasn't so much plastic waste. There are other similar balance products but they are a lot more expensive per gram of electrolytes.

[NewtonMP2100]

.....water intoxication....

[Paul F.]

RgrF wrote:
Thank you. That Radio Lab segment was so illuminating it riveted my attention deficit riddled grandson to his chair, after listening he actually wanted to know more.

You're very welcome. I've listened to that one several times over the years. Never thought I'd find rabies so interesting.
I recommend against watching videos of people dying of rabies, though. It's pretty grim.

[Dennis S]

That person screaming in the Radio Lab link was pretty bad. Also, have you seen videos of rabid foxes? I had to kill a raccoon going through the same thing.