Harvard doctor reveals the scary truth about drinking too much water and why it’s not always safe

A Harvard doctor said that drinking too much water is not always safe and can lead to a potentially fatal condition.

Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, has gone viral many times after sharing his insight and knowledge about the digestive system.

In a recent photo that has garnered more than 319,000 views, he revealed the dangers of drinking too much water.

He begins by saying: ‘If you think drinking lots of water is always safe, you might want to think again.’

The 42-year-old explains that there is a condition called water intoxication, where a lot of water accumulates in the brain, which can be very dangerous.

Dr Sethi, from California, US, continues: ‘This happens when you lack electrolytes, especially sodium.

‘If you exercise a lot and lose a lot of salt through sweat, drinking too much water at one time can be dangerous.’

The medical term for this condition is hyponatremia, and in this case, water dilutes electrolytes, such as sodium, which can lead to further dehydration.

Fatal cases of water intoxication have made headlines before. In August 2023, an Indiana mother tragically died after drinking too much water during a hot summer during the Fourth of July.

Ashley Summers’ brother said his sister suffered from severe dehydration and drank four bottles of water in just 30 minutes which caused the cells in her brain to swell.

To avoid this, Dr. Sethi says that people who drink a lot of water should put electrolyte powder or salt in a glass of water to help maintain balance.

Users took to the comments to share their thoughts on her allegations, and many people were left shocked.

‘Now, we don’t even know what to do and what not to do,’ one user commented.

Roy said: ‘Now we can’t even drink much water. Is there anything left to drink and eat?’

Another person added: ‘But water is life.

Maryanne said: ‘What’s next!

‘Now, I don’t even know if breathing is good or not,’ someone said.’

Dr Sethi has 456,000 followers on TikTok and once made headlines when he issued a dire warning to women who drink sodas that they face a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke.

His statement was based on a study published in 2019 by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, which linked the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages to the increase of these diseases in women over the age of 50, according to CNN.

And, interestingly, the risk of heart disease or stroke was the highest in women who had no history of heart disease or diabetes, the center reported.

Dr. Sethi also said that drinking too much soda can be linked to kidney disease.

‘High phosphorus content in diet sodas may contribute to chronic kidney disease,’ he said in the video.

His statement is supported by the National Kidney Foundation, which cited a study that found that drinking two or more sodas a day can cause kidney damage.

The study tested a group of women who all had healthy, functioning kidneys at the start of the trial.

However, they found that people who drank more soda had a three-fold decrease in their glomerular filtration rate – a measure of how well your kidneys are working – than those who did not they don’t drink diet soda.

During the study, there was a clear link between kidney function and diet soda consumption – so the National Kidney Foundation recommends drinking water instead.

The doctor also said that diet sodas can ‘increase the appetite for high-calorie foods, disrupting appetite control.’