Habitual overconsumption of water causes hyponatremia and electrolyte imbalance.

Tran V, Flores J, Sheldon M, Pena C, Nugent K. Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14030756

Explores how dysregulated fluid balance and osmoregulation affect sodium levels and cellular status.

Stefano Pini, Accursio Raia, B. Carpita, Bendetta Nardi, Matteo Benvenuti, Andrea Scatena, M. Di Paolo. Unexplained Coma and Sudden Death in Psychiatric Patients Due to Self-Induced Water Intoxication: Clinical Insights and Autopsy Findings From Two Fatal Cases. 2025. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79813

Demonstrates that excessive water intake exceeding renal excretion capacity results in hypotonic hyponatremia and fatal electrolyte disturbances.

G. Spasovski. Etiology, Clinical Approach, and Therapeutic Consequences of Hyponatremia. 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/kidneydial4010004

Notes that perturbations in water balance are the primary cause of hyponatremia and abnormal sodium levels.

Maris Taube. Hyponatremia caused by water intoxication: successful treatment of psychiatric disturbances with olanzapine and fluoxetine. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omaa127

Connects water intoxication via psychogenic polydipsia to acute hyponatremia and severe neurological complications.

Steven Whatmough, Stephen Mears, Courtney Kipps. EXERCISE ASSOCIATED HYPONATREMIA (EAH) AND FLUID INTAKE DURING THE 2016 LONDON MARATHON. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097372.316

Identifies excessive fluid intake over normal losses as the primary risk factor for exercise-associated hyponatremia.

Sharma S, Kumari P, Alam F, Dev P, Rawat N. Acute Water Intoxication Leading to Dilutional Hyponatremia in a Patient With Urinary Tract Infection: A Case Report.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.106185

Shows that acute excessive water consumption leads directly to dilutional hyponatremia and severe neurological symptoms.