MONTICELLO, IN - Most fitness experts recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water daily to remain hydrated. That number increases for those who engage in physical fitness or work outside in hot, humid weather. However, too much of a good thing can literally kill you.
That is what happened to an Indiana mother of two, who died after she drank too much water in a short period of time.
The New York Post reported that Ashley Summers, 35, and her family were returning home after an outing on Lake Freeman in Monticello, Indiana, on the Fourth of July. Summers told her husband she felt dehydrated and proceeded to drink four- 16 oz. bottles of water in 20 minutes, which equals approximately one-half-gallon of water. Typically, that amount is what someone would consume in an entire day.
Before drinking the water, Summers complained she felt lightheaded and had a headache that would not go away, her family said.
Upon returning home, Summers suddenly fell backward and passed out. “It was really hot, and they were out on the water,” Summers’ uncle, Deon Miller told a local newspaper. “She had a headache and felt really thirsty. She thought she must have been dehydrated so she drank like four bottled waters in half an hour.”
Cody Summers, Ashley’s husband, jumped into action when she passed out, performing CPR on the stricken mother of two. He temporarily revived her; however, on arrival at the hospital, doctors ran tests and put her on a ventilator, Miller said.
“By that time, her brain had swelled enough that it shut off all circulation to her brain, and she was brain dead,” he said. “Then, that night, she was gone. It’s been a real shock for the kids and everyone.”
Miller said he received a call from his sister who informed him of Summers’ injury, telling him she had brain swelling and was hospitalized. He said his sister told him that hospital staff didn’t know what caused the brain swelling and were unsure how to get it to dissipate.
“It was a shock to all of us. When they first started talking about water toxicity, it was like this is a thing?” he continued.
Water toxicity is a severe condition that occurs when too much water is consumed too quickly. It is also known as water poisoning or water intoxication. The malady can also be caused when the kidneys retain too much water due to underlying, often unknown, medical conditions.
Summers’ death comes on the heels of two other high-profile cases of water toxicity, one involving a young South Carolina boy in July and another last week which hospitalized a content creator.
According to Medical News Today, water toxicity or “overhydration” can oversaturate the blood with water, causing sodium levels in the blood to become dangerously low. The Post reported that symptoms of water toxicity include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and in extreme cases, drowsiness, muscle cramps or fatigue, double vision, high blood pressure, confusion, or difficulty breathing.
More severe complications such as central nerve dysfunction, seizures, brain damage, coma, or death can occur in more severe cases, requiring immediate medical attention.
Medical experts advise adults to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, or 64 ounces. That total may go up to approximately 13 eight-ounce glasses. They also recommend drinking between 14 to 22 ounces of water one or two hours before exercise or going out in the heat. Additionally, sports drinks such as Gatorade, which contains electrolytes that replace sugar, sodium, and potassium lost through sweating, may be recommended.
For Ashley, her death has left a gaping hole in the hearts of family and friends. “We’re not doing well," Miller told The Messenger. “She loved kids and her kids were on her hip all the time,” he told the outlet, tears swelling in his eyes.
“She always carried babies around when she was younger. She was a good girl.”
Ashley’s friend, Carissa Kay DeWItt, posted on Facebook that her family would donate Ashley’s organs. “She will be gifting SO many people & giving them a second chance at life. I’m kind of jealous of these recipients, but also so thankful they get a piece of our Ash,” she wrote. “Raise some hell in Heaven, Ash. See you later,” she continued.
Besides her husband, Ashley Summers leaves two young daughters, Brooklyn and Brynlee.
That is what happened to an Indiana mother of two, who died after she drank too much water in a short period of time.
The New York Post reported that Ashley Summers, 35, and her family were returning home after an outing on Lake Freeman in Monticello, Indiana, on the Fourth of July. Summers told her husband she felt dehydrated and proceeded to drink four- 16 oz. bottles of water in 20 minutes, which equals approximately one-half-gallon of water. Typically, that amount is what someone would consume in an entire day.
Before drinking the water, Summers complained she felt lightheaded and had a headache that would not go away, her family said.
Upon returning home, Summers suddenly fell backward and passed out. “It was really hot, and they were out on the water,” Summers’ uncle, Deon Miller told a local newspaper. “She had a headache and felt really thirsty. She thought she must have been dehydrated so she drank like four bottled waters in half an hour.”
Cody Summers, Ashley’s husband, jumped into action when she passed out, performing CPR on the stricken mother of two. He temporarily revived her; however, on arrival at the hospital, doctors ran tests and put her on a ventilator, Miller said.
“By that time, her brain had swelled enough that it shut off all circulation to her brain, and she was brain dead,” he said. “Then, that night, she was gone. It’s been a real shock for the kids and everyone.”
Miller said he received a call from his sister who informed him of Summers’ injury, telling him she had brain swelling and was hospitalized. He said his sister told him that hospital staff didn’t know what caused the brain swelling and were unsure how to get it to dissipate.
“It was a shock to all of us. When they first started talking about water toxicity, it was like this is a thing?” he continued.
Water toxicity is a severe condition that occurs when too much water is consumed too quickly. It is also known as water poisoning or water intoxication. The malady can also be caused when the kidneys retain too much water due to underlying, often unknown, medical conditions.
Summers’ death comes on the heels of two other high-profile cases of water toxicity, one involving a young South Carolina boy in July and another last week which hospitalized a content creator.
According to Medical News Today, water toxicity or “overhydration” can oversaturate the blood with water, causing sodium levels in the blood to become dangerously low. The Post reported that symptoms of water toxicity include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and in extreme cases, drowsiness, muscle cramps or fatigue, double vision, high blood pressure, confusion, or difficulty breathing.
More severe complications such as central nerve dysfunction, seizures, brain damage, coma, or death can occur in more severe cases, requiring immediate medical attention.
Medical experts advise adults to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, or 64 ounces. That total may go up to approximately 13 eight-ounce glasses. They also recommend drinking between 14 to 22 ounces of water one or two hours before exercise or going out in the heat. Additionally, sports drinks such as Gatorade, which contains electrolytes that replace sugar, sodium, and potassium lost through sweating, may be recommended.
For Ashley, her death has left a gaping hole in the hearts of family and friends. “We’re not doing well," Miller told The Messenger. “She loved kids and her kids were on her hip all the time,” he told the outlet, tears swelling in his eyes.
“She always carried babies around when she was younger. She was a good girl.”
Ashley’s friend, Carissa Kay DeWItt, posted on Facebook that her family would donate Ashley’s organs. “She will be gifting SO many people & giving them a second chance at life. I’m kind of jealous of these recipients, but also so thankful they get a piece of our Ash,” she wrote. “Raise some hell in Heaven, Ash. See you later,” she continued.
Besides her husband, Ashley Summers leaves two young daughters, Brooklyn and Brynlee.
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