Beware — too many High Noons could leave you highly hospitalized.
Overconsumption of any alcohol is notably bad for your health, but researchers at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center say hard seltzer is specifically to blame for a brand new disorder.
Spiked seltzers have certainly spiked in popularity since being named the official cocktail for summer 2019. It helps that drinks like White Claw and High Noon have a relatively low calorie count and are lower in alcohol than spirits.
But just because they’re light doesn’t mean you can drink a lot more.
A new study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Medical Cases reports on three people who consumed two or more 6-packs of hard seltzer per day.
They developed a condition that has now been named “Mehandru/Vachharajani Syndrome.”
The disorder — only the second newly identified kidney disorder in the last 35 years — resulted in severe hyponatremia, or a dangerous drop in blood sodium levels.
Brought on by excessive fluid intake from low-solute drinks, like hard seltzers, this condition can cause serious health issues, such as headaches, nausea, confusion, seizures and even coma.
Hyponatremia is especially dangerous during the hot summer months when people are more likely to become dehydrated.
When a drink has high amounts of water but low levels of sodium or sugar — like many alcoholic beverages — the kidneys have trouble effectively processing and excreting excess fluid.
While “beer potomania” has been well-known for a while, the effects of hyponatremia from drinking one too many hard seltzers in particular are new.
The risk of this disorder is heightened thanks to easy overconsumption, which can also bring on other alcohol-related dangers.
And while younger generations are redefining their relationship to alcohol, a majority of Gen Zers plan on enjoying drinks this summer.
Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing the body to lose fluid, exacerbating dehydration and heatstroke in the summer.
The most severe, life-threatening form of heat illness, heatstroke occurs when the body fails to regulate temperature, leading to dizziness, confusion, blurred vision and damage to organs.
Stay hydrated and use plenty of electrolytes, especially if you’re drinking or spending time outdoors to replace sodium lost through sweat.
Hydrating with non-alcoholic beverages, eating a meal before drinking and applying sunscreen before going out can all help to reduce the risk of dehydration.
The CDC also recommends that men limit alcoholic drinks to two a day, while women should only consume one drink per day.
