In Indiana, a mother of two dies after consuming about 64 ounces of water in only 20 minutes due to water poisoning.
Shortly after enjoying a peaceful day at Lake Freeman over the extended Fourth of July weekend, 35-year-old Ashley Summers passed away from water toxicity.
She had experienced headaches and dizziness on the final day of her trip, signs of dehydration, but no amount of water could quench her thirst. She drank enough to fill four 16-ounce (500 ml) bottles.
Ms. Summers experienced acute brain swelling, and when she got home, she passed out in her garage. She never felt herself again.
She was given the diagnosis of water toxicity at the hospital, also known as hyponatremia, which happens when the body has too much water and not enough sodium.
Ashley Summers, 35, was a mother of two and a daycare provider. She died soon following the July 4th holiday from water toxicity, often known as hyponatremia.
Ms. Summers enjoyed spending time on the sea. On the last day of their trip, she complained of being dehydrated, as well as having a headache and feeling lightheaded.
Hyponatremia is defined by low sodium levels in the body, a vital electrolyte that helps manage the delicate balance of fluids in cells and maintain healthy nerve and muscle function.
Drinking excessive water dilutes sodium concentrations in the blood.
Ms. Summers’ brother, Devon Miller, was shocked to learn about his sister’s illness. It was a major shock to us all, he remarked. I simply thought, “This is a thing?”
‘She simply felt like she couldn’t get enough water,’ Mr. Miller continued. She drank four bottles of water in the 20 minutes between when they left the sand bar and when they arrived at the pier.
On a weekend holiday boat trip, the Summers family traveled to Lake Freeman, a well-known summer vacation spot about 80 miles north of Indianapolis. Ashley “loved being on the water,” according to her brother.
From Saturday, July 1 through Tuesday, July 4, the family was on vacation there.
Ms. Summers’ family reported that she felt dehydrated and was unable to drink enough water to slake her thirst on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday night, Mr. Miller received a frightening call from his other sister regarding Ashley. She had passed out in her garage, so someone had to take her to the Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital.
My sister Holly contacted me and she was just a complete breakdown,’ he added. “Ashley is in the hospital,” she said. She has brain enlargement, the cause of which is unknown, the treatment options are limited, and the prognosis is poor.
Medical professionals determined that Ms. Summers had hyponatremia or water poisoning since she never recovered consciousness.
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The problem happens when someone drinks too much water in a short period, overtaxing the body’s intricate organ systems, particularly the kidneys, which are responsible for maintaining fluid balance.
To ensure optimal cell activity, a balance must be reached between water and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride.
For the ability to sustain electrical impulses that allow for cell-to-cell communication, sodium is especially important.
Additionally, sodium helps the kidneys and digestive system absorb nutrients, which regulates how much water and electrolytes are reabsorbed into the bloodstream or eliminated through urine.
