Doctors treating the man found that he had been drinking large amounts of water daily - around 3.5 liters
A 72-year-old man faced several life-threatening asthma attacks after drinking too much water. He was later admitted to a hospital in China after he began wheezing, felt chest tightness, and could not even breathe.
According to The Sun, even though the man had been managing symptoms of asthma for the last two years on his own with the help of inhalers and oral medications, doctors who were treating him found that he had been drinking large amounts of water daily - around 3.5 litres.
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways of your lungs—making them inflamed and narrowed, causing breathing issues. It can be managed but not cured. According to experts, asthma can be easily triggered by allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander, along with rising pollution and smoke.
However, doctors say drinking excess water is a rare trigger for the life-threatening condition.
At the time of his reaction, the man was already on an IV, receiving extra fluids to help with his dry mouth. Despite consuming so many fluids, his urine output remained low - which the doctors say is due to fluid imbalance—as mentioned in the journal Clinical Medical Insight. “The excessive fluid retention was suspected to contribute to pulmonary congestion, further aggravating his asthma symptoms,” wrote doctors from the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
How was he treated?
While he was in the hospital, doctors said they introduced diuretics to help reduce water buildup in the body. Also, his fluid intake was controlled, and his daily pee output was monitored.
Within a week, doctors said his condition improved and he stabilised—and was eventually discharged with controlled symptoms.
How does water trigger an asthma attack?
According to experts, drinking too much water can spike your blood volume and cause pulmonary edema – a life-threatening condition that occurs when too much fluid builds up in the lungs. This fluid buildup makes it difficult to breathe. Even though it is a rare case, doctors have warned about the risks of excessive fluid consumption triggering asthma flare-ups.
"Given the limited data available on this phenomenon, further studies are necessary to establish the exact mechanisms by which excessive water intake influences asthma and to develop guidelines for fluid management in patients with respiratory conditions," the authors said.
"Recognising and addressing fluid overload may help improve asthma outcomes and reduce prolonged hospital stays for affected individuals."
How much water should you drink daily?
As your body constantly loses water throughout the day—mainly through urine and sweat—to prevent dehydration, you must get plenty of water from drinking and eating daily. While there are conflicting opinions on how much water you should drink daily, have at least eight glasses—around 2 litres.
Apart from reducing dehydration, water also helps in weight loss by increasing your metabolism and curbing your appetite. According to studies, drinking more water than usual correlated to a decrease in body weight and body composition scores. Drinking adequate amounts of water - particularly before meals—may give you a boost in managing appetite and maintaining a moderate body weight, especially when combined with a balanced eating plan.
It also helps regulate various conditions like constipation and kidney stones, helps hydrate your skin, and prevents urinary tract infections.
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