How Bruce Lee died from drinking too much water: researchers

Docs imagine they've found the thriller behind the mind swelling that brought about Bruce Lee’s demise.

The legendary martial artist and actor died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973, on the age of 32 from mind swelling — from what medical doctors now say was brought on by consuming an excessive amount of water.

“We suggest that the kidney’s lack of ability to excrete extra water killed Bruce Lee,” researchers write within the upcoming difficulty of Medical Kidney Journal. “Paradoxically, Lee made well-known the quote ‘Be water, my good friend’ — however extra water seems to have in the end killed him.”

On the time, medical doctors believed the mind swelling was resulting from a painkiller, however practically 50 years after the “Enter the Dragon” icon’s demise, analysis reveals he probably died of hyponatraemia — a low focus of sodium in blood, which may be brought on by an excessive amount of water or fluid within the physique, in response to the Mayo Clinic.

Actor and martial artist Bruce Lee
Actor and martial artist Bruce Lee died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973, on the age of 32. A current investigation proposes a brand new reason for demise.
FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives through Getty Pictures
Bruce Lee publicity portrait, 1972.
Researchers word Bruce Lee’s previous historical past that's probably related to his reason for demise — together with extra water consumption.
Getty Pictures
Pouring water from jug into glass on blue background
Researchers hypothesize that Bruce Lee probably died of hyponatraemia.
Getty Pictures/iStockphoto

The researchers’ findings are removed from what individuals as soon as speculated about his demise, together with rumors that he was assassinated by gangsters, poisoned by a jealous lover, the sufferer of a curse and died from heatstroke.

The scientists make the case that Lee had a number of threat elements for hyponatraemia, together with excessive liquid consumption, elements that might improve thirst — corresponding to marijuana utilization, and elements that debilitate the kidneys’ skill to excrete water — corresponding to use of prescribed drugs, alcohol, previous historical past of kidney damage or low solute consumption.

Researchers word Lee’s previous historical past that's probably related to his reason for demise — together with extra water consumption.

Prescription drugs and risk for hyponatraemia. A higher number of prescription drugs associated with hyponatraemia further increases the risk of hyponatraemia in patients with other predisposing factors. Bar graph built using data from reference
Prescribed drugs and threat for hyponatraemia.
Nationwide Library of Drugs
Water balance homeostasis and Bruce Lee's risk factors for hyponatraemia.
Water steadiness homeostasis and Bruce Lee’s threat elements for hyponatraemia.
Nationwide Library of Drugs

Lee’s spouse, Linda, as soon as talked about his fluid-based weight-reduction plan of “carrot and apple juice.” Matthew Polly, creator of the 2018 ebook “Bruce Lee: A Life,” repeatedly referred to Lee’s water consumption through the day — together with the lead as much as him changing into in poor health.

“I believe we had some water… that most likely made him somewhat drained and thirsty. After just a few sips he appeared to be somewhat dizzy… Instantly after feeling faint, Bruce complained of a headache,” Polly wrote within the ebook.

The researchers took the truth that such a commonplace exercise like water consumption was persistently seen as proof that it was a noticeably greater consumption than others on the day Lee died.

Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon
“Paradoxically, Lee made well-known the quote ‘Be water, my good friend’, however extra water seems to have in the end killed him,” concluded the paper revealed in Medical Kidney Journal.
Bettmann Archive
Chinese American martial artist and actor Bruce Lee on the set of TV series The Green Hornet, created by George W. Trendle.
On the time of Bruce Lee’s demise, medical doctors believed the mind swelling was resulting from a painkiller.
Twentieth Century Fox Tv/Sundown Boulevard/Corbis through Getty Pictures

Different elements in Lee’s medical historical past that researchers deemed probably related embrace hashish, alcohol, low dietary solute consumption, prescribed drugs, diuretics, opioids, kidney dysfunction, train and a previous cerebral edema episode two months previous to his demise.

“In conclusion, we hypothesize that Bruce Lee died from a particular type of kidney dysfunction: the lack to excrete sufficient water to take care of water homeostasis, which is especially a tubular operate,” researchers wrote. “This will likely result in hyponatraemia, cerebral oedema and demise inside hours if extra water consumption will not be matched by water excretion in urine, which is in step with the timeline of Lee’s demise.”

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