A doctor who graduated from Harvard University has gone viral after revealing that drinking a lot of water isn’t always the “safest” option for your body.
Dr Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, shares his experience and knowledge with his 456,000 followers on TikTok (@doctorsethimd ).
He previously shared a shocking warning for women who drink diet sodas, explaining that those who do, face a significantly higher risk of heart attack or strokes.
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Now, in a recent clip, racking up over 319,000 views and over 5,000 likes, he’s revealed that drinking copious amounts of water isn’t always the best advice, reports What’s The Jam.
He begins by saying: “If you think drinking a lot of water is always safe, you might want to think again.”
The 42-year-old explains there is a condition called water intoxication, where excess water accumulates in the brain, which can be very dangerous.
Dr Sethi, from California, US, continues: “This occurs when you are low on electrolytes, particularly sodium.
“If you are exercising heavily and losing a lot of salt through sweat, drinking a large amount of water simultaneously can be risky.”
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The medical term for the condition is hyponatremia, and in this case, water dilutes electrolytes, such as sodium, which can potentially lead to further dehydration.
He says to prevent this, either add electrolyte powder or simply add a pinch of salt to a glass of water to help maintain balance.
Users have flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many people left shocked.
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“At this point, we don’t even know what to do and what we cannot do,” one user commented.
Roy said: “Now we can’t even drink much water. Is there anything left that human can drink and eat?”
“But water is life,” another person added.
Maryanne said: “Omg what next!”
“At this point, I don’t even know that breathing is good or not,” someone else commented.
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