It is not unfamiliar news to the world how prominent American martial artist and actor Bruce Lee passed away at the prime age of 32. According to Wane, martial arts star Lee was simply waiting for his major Hollywood project to be released. However, Lee wasn't able to reach the official movie release since he allegedly passed due to a massive brain swell, or cerebral edema.
While it has been nearly five decades since Bruce Lee's death, recent studies have shown that there could actually be an unsupposed underlying cause of his sudden passing: too much water intake.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: A general view of the atmosphere at Madame Tussauds Hollywood Unveils New Bruce Lee Figure Alongside The Legend's Daughter Shannon Lee, And The Bruce Lee Foundation on September 24, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds)
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Bruce Lee's Kidneys Allegedly Could Not Excrete Too Much Water
A group of kidney specialists from Spain conducted a study that was included in the December 2022 release of the Clinical Kidney Journal. In this study, kidney specialists reported how Lee's kidney was incapable of excreting too much water.
These specialists hypothesized that being unable to expel sufficient water to maintain water balance was a kidney dysfunction that led to Lee's death. They further stated that such a condition could lead to cerebral edema, hyponatremia, and even death in a matter of hours if water intake does not match urine excretion.
The researchers also asserted that 32-year-old Lee harbored several risk factors for the condition known as hyponatremia, which is signified by abnormally reduced levels of sodium in a person's blood. They noted how Lee had a habit of using marijuana, taking in too much fluids, and other factors that could have impacted his overall kidney function. These factors included kidney injuries, alcohol ingestion, and prescribed drugs. All of these made Lee at risk for hyponatremia.
According to Mayo Clinic, sodium helps regulate water within and around the cells. Thus, in hyponatremia, sodium levels in the body get diluted. As a result, levels of water skyrocket, and cells start swelling. This swelling can lead to various health complications that could be either mild or life-threatening.
The kidney specialists noted how hyponatremia is a common condition that is found in around 40% of hospitalized individuals. The condition is even capable of causing death even to those who are young and healthy.
That being said, can excessive water intake really kill?
Can Too Much Water Kill You?
Looking back to the Mayo Clinic's description of hyponatremia, the condition can strongly be related to excessive water intake. While it may not be the only factor that leads to sodium dilution, it can be one of the significant contributors. In such a case, cells swell as water quantity rises. Health complications that result from this can be bearable or potentially life-threatening.
This shows that it is possible to die from hyponatremia, or indirectly, too much water intake-such as in the alleged case of Bruce Lee. Mayo Clinic suggests that in order to prevent the condition from happening, certain measures can be taken. These measures include treating medical conditions that could lead to hyponatremia, being cautious when performing intense activities, drinking electrolyte-filled beverages, and drinking moderate amounts of water.
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