Editing Water intoxication (section)

{{short description|Potentially fatal overhydration}}
{{Distinguish|Hydrocephalus}}
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'''Water intoxication''', also known as '''water poisoning''', '''hyperhydration''', '''overhydration''', or '''water toxemia''', is a potentially fatal disturbance in [[brain]] functions that can result when the normal balance of [[electrolyte]]s in the body is pushed outside safe limits by excessive [[water]] intake.

Under normal circumstances, accidentally consuming too much water is exceptionally rare. Most deaths related to water intoxication in healthy individuals have resulted either from water-drinking [[competition|contests]], in which individuals attempt to consume large amounts of water, or from long bouts of [[exercise]] during which excessive amounts of fluid were consumed.<ref name="Noakes2006">{{cite journal |vauthors=Noakes TD, Speedy DB |title=Case proven: exercise associated hyponatraemia is due to overdrinking. So why did it take 20 years before the original evidence was accepted? |journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine |volume=40 |issue=7 |pages=567–72 |date=July 2006  |pmid=16799109 |pmc=2564296 |doi=10.1136/bjsm.2005.020354}}</ref> In addition, [[water cure (torture)|water cure]], a method of [[torture]] in which the victim is forced to consume excessive amounts of water, can cause water intoxication.<ref name="Noakes2006" />

Water, like any other substance, can be considered a [[poison]] when over-consumed in a brief period. Water intoxication mostly occurs when water is being consumed in a high quantity provoking disturbances in electrolyte balance.<ref name="Farrell, D. J.">{{cite journal |vauthors=Farrell DJ, Bower L |title=Fatal water intoxication |journal=Journal of Clinical Pathology |volume=56 |issue=10 |pages=803–804 |date=Oct 2003  |pmc=1770067 |doi=10.1136/jcp.56.10.803-a |pmid=14514793}}</ref>

Excess of [[body water]] may also be a result of a medical condition or improper treatment; see "[[hyponatremia]]" for some examples. Water is considered one of the least toxic chemical compounds, with an [[Median lethal dose|LD<sub>50</sub>]] exceeding {{convert|90000|mg/kg|g/kg|abbr=on}} body weight in rats;<ref>{{Cite report|url=http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927321|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929230110/http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927321|archive-date=29 September 2018|title=Material Safety Data Sheet Water MSDS|chapter=Section 11: Toxicological Information|publisher=ScienceLab.com}}</ref> drinking six liters in three hours has caused the death of a human.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Ballantyne | first=Coco | title=Strange but True: Drinking Too Much Water Can Kill | journal=Scientific American | date=21 June 2007 | url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/}}</ref>