What are the reasons for not drinking water in heatstroke?
Aug 02, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Heatstroke patients often experience confusion and delayed swallowing reflexes. Drinking water can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting, which may lead to aspiration and airway obstruction; avoiding water intake reduces this risk. Hyperthermia impairs cardiac function, and water consumption increases blood volume, further burdening the heart and potentially causing arrhythmias. Avoiding water intake prevents additional stress on the heart.
The reasons why patients with heatstroke should not drink water generally include preventing vomiting and aspiration, reducing cardiac load, avoiding electrolyte imbalance, maintaining heat dissipation efficiency, and protecting gastrointestinal function. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Prevent vomiting and aspiration: Patients with heatstroke often experience confusion and delayed swallowing reflexes. Drinking water may easily stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting. Vomit could enter the trachea, leading to airway obstruction; avoiding drinking water reduces such risks.
2. Reduce cardiac load: High body temperature can impair heart function. Drinking water increases blood volume, further burdening the heart and potentially causing arrhythmias. Avoiding water intake prevents additional stress on the heart.
3. Avoid electrolyte imbalance: Patients often lose significant amounts of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium through excessive sweating. Drinking water may dilute the remaining electrolytes, disrupting the body's balance. Avoiding unguided water intake can prevent worsening of electrolyte imbalances.
4. Maintain heat dissipation efficiency: After drinking water, blood flow concentrates in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing skin circulation and impairing the body's ability to dissipate heat. Avoiding water intake helps maintain normal skin heat dissipation and promotes body temperature reduction.
5. Protect gastrointestinal function: Heatstroke may cause congestion of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Drinking water may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause discomfort. Avoiding water intake reduces gastrointestinal irritation and helps protect its function.
When encountering a patient with heatstroke, it is important to understand the reasons for avoiding water intake and not to administer fluids orally without guidance. Immediate cooling measures should be taken, and the patient should be promptly transported to a hospital. Medical professionals can then assess the condition and safely replenish fluids and electrolytes via intravenous infusion, ensuring the patient's safety.
