Health
Published November 2, 2023, 12:13 PM ET
Doctors often advise patients to drink more water, with only 22% of Americans drinking the recommended eight glasses per day.
But Brooke Shields’ health scare over excessive hydration is sure to cause many to turn off the tap.
The 58-year-old “Pretty Baby” star revealed this week that she recently suffered a grand mal seizure after drinking too much H2O.
“Everything started going black,” Shields recalled in Glamour’s 2023 Women of the Year issue, published Wednesday. “Then my hands fall to the side and I fall head first into the wall.”
“I’m having a grand mal seizure,” the actress explained. “It means I’m foaming at the mouth, completely blue and trying to swallow my tongue. The next thing I know, I’m being loaded into an ambulance. I have oxygen on.”
“I flooded my body and drowned myself,” she continued, revealing the reason behind the horrific medical incident. “If you don’t have enough sodium in your blood, urine or body, you can have an attack.”
In fact, excessive fluid intake – also known as water toxicity – can cause seizures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advises people not to drink more than 48 ounces (the equivalent of six cups) per hour.
Shields revealed this week that she recently suffered a grand mal seizure after drinking too much H20. Adela Loconte/Shutterstock Excessive fluid intake – also known as water toxicity – can cause seizures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advises people not to drink more than 48 ounces (the equivalent of six cups) per hour. Farknot Architect – stock.adobe.com
Shields revealed that by the time she was drinking a lot of water, she already had low sodium levels, which can be very dangerous.
Water dilutes the sodium in the blood, causing a condition called hyponatremia.
According to the Mayo Clinic, low sodium levels cause cells to swell. In the brain, this can cause increased pressure on the skull, potentially triggering a seizure. The medical organization describes hyponatremia as “life-threatening.”
Shield did not disclose how much water she drank, but Mayo’s expert said 3.7 liters of fluid per day was enough for men and 2.7 liters for women.
This also includes drinks other than water, such as milk, juice and coffee. Doctors generally recommend drinking eight glasses of plain water per day, although adjustments may be necessary depending on your environment and level of exercise.
Shield did not disclose how much water she drank, but experts advise drinking no more than 3.7 liters of fluid per day for men and 2.7 liters of fluid per day for women.Getty Images/iStockphoto “I have my body flooded and I drowned myself,” Shields explained, revealing the reason for the horrific medical incident. “If you don’t have enough sodium in your blood, urine or body, you can have an attack.”
To avoid overhydration, experts recommend drinking no more than 13 cups of water daily and consuming less than a liter per hour.
Seizures aren’t the only potential problem that can arise from excessive fluid intake. The condition can also cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and, in extreme cases, drowsiness, muscle cramps or fatigue, double vision, high blood pressure, confusion or difficulty breathing.
And while the grand mal seizure Shields suffered won’t leave her with any lasting health problems, excessive fluid intake can be fatal.
“I’m having a grand mal seizure,” she explained. “It means I’m foaming at the mouth, completely blue and trying to swallow my tongue. The next thing I know, I’m being loaded into an ambulance. I have oxygen on.”
In July, an Indiana mother of two died after drinking an estimated 64 ounces of water – or about 8 glasses – in just 20 minutes.
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