A college student was participating in a late night summer event where she danced and had several beer bongs and tequila shots with her friends. After she stumbled her way back to the dorms, she thought she could fend off a hang-over by consuming large amounts of water. The next morning, however, she was found unresponsive and foaming at the mouth (no seizures were reported). Upon arrival at the Emergency Room, she was in respiratory distress, with dilated pupils, an elevated pulse, and hypothermic. After several hours her hemodynamic status was still unstable, and she eventually died.. X-rays revealed pulmonary edema while lab results indicated sodium levels less than 120 mmol/L and the presence of MDMA.
What would be your diagnosis?
Be prepared to discuss the signs and symptoms of this condition.
How was the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) affected in this case?
Can the overconsumption of too much water be corrected? If so, how?
It has been often said that you should drink 8 glasses of water per day. Is this true? Why or why not?