Doctors warn about the dangers of water toxicity amid extreme heat

SAN ANTONIO - In this extreme heat, it may seem like you can't get enough water in your system. But doctors say if you drink too much water in a short period of time, it could prove dangerous.

Medical experts say the average healthy adult needs somewhere between three to four liters of water a day. However, you can drink too much water, and that’s called water toxicity. Recently, an Indiana mom died from water toxicity when she drank four bottles of water in just 20 minutes.

Emergency room Dr. Savannah Chavez says that’s all it takes sometimes to throw your body off.

"The sodium level needs to be at a certain range, and when you start going outside of that range, because you've had to much water, therefore decreasing your sodium concentration things start to go haywire," says Dr. Chavez.

Water toxicity can be hard to diagnose, but could include altered mental status, disorientation, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. How much water is okay for each person depends largely on the individual and their environment.

CLICK HERE for more information on fatal water intoxication...