Shields described the severity of symptoms she experienced during the seizure, including frothing at the mouth, skin turning blue, and attempting to swallow her tongue. “The next thing I remember, [I’m] being loaded into an ambulance. I have oxygen on,” she tells Glamour, adding that actor Bradley Cooper rode alongside her in the ambulance on the way to Mount Sinai, where she was placed in the ICU. The doctor told Shields that she had depleted her sodium levels by flushing her body with excess water. This can throw off one’s electrolyte balance and prompt swelling of the cells, explains Medical News Today. The lack of sodium in Shields’ system had led her to have a seizure. The actress has never disclosed any history of epilepsy (via AARP).
Overhydration doesn’t usually happen on purpose. Having been hard at work on her show and podcast, the actress stated that she continued to drink water because she had been feeling dehydrated. Therefore, it’s important for people to know the warning signs of overhydration, which can potentially lead to water intoxication. Headaches, vomiting, and nausea may be among the initial symptoms to emerge. In cases of severe water intoxication, a person may experience double vision, drowsiness, muscle cramping, confusion, and more. It is suggested that individuals consume no more than 0.8 to 1.0 liters of water per hour.