Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2022 16:15:22 GMT -4
Bruce Lee 'may have died from drinking too much WATER': Doctors believe they have solved mystery brain swelling that caused film star's death at age 32 nearly 50 years ago
'Excess water appears to have ultimately killed him,' researchers have claimed
They wrote in the Clinical Kidney Journal that Bruce Lee had hyponatremia
This where the sodium level in the blood - needed for fluid balance - is low
His risk factors were high water intake and cannabis use - which increases thirst
Previous cause of death theories included swelling on the brain and heatstroke
Kung fu legend Bruce Lee might have died from drinking too much water, doctors have claimed nearly 50 years after he passed away.
The martial arts supremo-cum-Hollywood star died aged 32 in the summer of 1973 while in Hong Kong.
An autopsy at the time showed Bruce had died from brain swelling, which doctors blamed on him taking a painkiller.
His untimely passing sparked rumors he may have been assassinated by Chinese gangsters, poisoned by a jealous lover, or the victim of a curse. Another theory was that he died from heatstroke.
Now, researchers have reviewed the evidence to rule that Bruce actually likely died of hyponatremia.
'In other words, we propose that the kidney’s inability to excrete excess water killed Bruce Lee,' the team of experts wrote in the Clinical Kidney Journal.
Hyponatremia means the sodium level in blood — which your body needs for fluid balance — is abnormally low.
An imbalance causes cells in the body to swell, including ones in the brain.
The study claims Bruce had multiple risk factors for hyponatremia, including that he was drinking high quantities of liquid, using cannabis — which increases thirst — as well as other factors that decrease the ability of the kidneys, such as the use of prescription drugs and alcohol.
His wife Linda revealed how Bruce had a fluid-based diet of carrot and apple juice in the run-up to his death.
And Matthew Polly — who wrote the biography Bruce Lee, A Life in 2018 — refers to repeated water intake on the evening of his death.
The study concluded: 'We hypothesize that Bruce Lee died from a specific form of kidney dysfunction: the inability to excrete enough water to maintain water homeostasis, which is mainly a tubular function.
'This may lead to hyponatremia, cerebral oedema (brain swelling) and death within hours if excess water intake is not matched by water excretion in urine, which is in line with the timeline of Lee’s demise.'
The researchers wrote that the fact the drinking of water was noted when it is 'such a commonplace activity' means it was likely 'noticeably higher' than those around him on the day he died.
Bruce has also been reported to have frequently used cannabis and in one letter described himself as 'stoned as hell'.
Cannabis use can increase thirst and Mr Polly refers in his book to repeated use of the substance on July 20, 1973 — the day Bruce died.
The researchers suggest this may have been driving Bruce to drink excess water.
'Ironically, Lee made famous the quote "Be water my friend", but excess water appears to have ultimately killed him,' they wrote.
Bruce's death came just a few weeks before the release of Enter The Dragon - the first big Western-produced Kung fu film.
He had a near-miss in May 1973 after collapsing and going into spasms after an editing session in a dubbing room with no air conditioning.
A doctor diagnosed him with cerebral oedema and Bruce admitted that he had eaten some Nepalese hash shortly before the episode.
Bruce featured in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and was played by Mike Moh.
Last year, his daughter slammed Tarantino's portrayal of her late father saying it reminded her of how 'white Hollywood' had treated him.
In an open letter published by The Hollywood Reporter in July 2021, Shannon, 52, made her feelings quite clear, writing that she is 'really f**king tired of white men in Hollywood trying to tell me who Bruce Lee was.'
'Why does Quentin Tarantino speak like he knew Bruce Lee and hated him? It seems weird given he never met Bruce Lee, right?' Shannon began the column.
'As you already know, the portrayal of Bruce Lee in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood by Mr. Tarantino, in my opinion, was inaccurate and unnecessary to say the least,' she later wrote, going on to add: 'I’m really tired of white men in Hollywood trying to tell me who Bruce Lee was.
How CAN you die from drinking too much water?
Drinking too much water can cause the level of sodium in the blood to fall abnormally low.
Sodium is vital for regulating the amount of water in the body and controlling blood pressure, nerves and muscles.
Too little of the electrolyte, medically known as hyponatremia, causes a build-up of water in and around the body's cells.
This causes cells to swell and can trigger symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening, such as headaches, vomiting and seizures.
The normal blood sodium level is 135 to 145 milliequivalents per litre (mEq/L). Hyponatremia occurs when the level falls below 135 mEq/L.
Doctors believe Kung fu legend Bruce Lee may have died from the condition, while English actor Anthony Andrews has told how he was hospitalized due to hyponatremia.
Fatalities and hospital admissions have been reported after people drank seven to eight litres of water — compared to the daily recommendation of around two litres.
What causes hyponatremia?
Causes of hyponatremia include:
Excessive thirst - Causes too much fluid intake
Kidney failure - The kidneys cannot rid the body of excess fluid
Congestive heart failure - Excess fluid builds up in the body
Diuretics (water pills) - Makes the body get rid of more sodium in the urine
Severe vomiting or diarrhea - The body loses a lot of fluid and sodium
Antidepressants and pain medication - May cause more sweating and urinating than normal
What are the symptoms of hyponatremia?
Symptoms of hyponatremia include:
Nausea or vomiting
Low blood pressure
Loss of energy
Muscle weakness, twitching or cramps
Restlessness or a bad temper
Headache, confusion or fatigue
Seizures or coma
How is hyponatremia treated?
Treatment for hyponatremia varies on the severity but the first step may be to cut back the amount of liquids you drink or adjust your diuretic (water pill) usage.
Your GP may also recommend an IV drip of sodium solution, prescribe sodium retaining medicines or dialysis.
