Woman Who Drank Nothing But Soda for 16 Years Hospitalized

After 16 years of drinking only soda, a 31-year-old woman living in southern France faced a series of serious health issues.

The woman, who did not have a family history of heart or hormone problems, told her doctors she had not drunk any water since she was 15, opting for some 2 liters (2 quarts) of cola a day. according to LiveScience.

First brought into the hospital after fainting, a test of her heart's electrical activity revealed she was suffering from a condition called QT syndrome, which can cause erratic heart beats. Furthermore, a blood test revealed she had severely low potassium levels.

Doctors weren't surprised, as drinking too much cola may cause excess water to enter the bowels, which can lead to diarrhea and a loss of potassium. In addition, high amounts of caffeine can increase urine production and decrease potassium reabsorption. In either case, the crucial nutrient plays an important role in aiding a person's heartbeat.

After confronting the case, the doctors decided to research similar cases, LiveScience reported, leading to the discovery of six reports of excessive cola consumption believed to be related to adverse medical problems, including heart rhythm problems.

In one highly publicized case, a pathologist was reported saying that the death of New Zealand native Natasha Harris was probably related to her habit of consuming eight liters per day. Harris died of a heart attack at age 30.

Fortunately, in the case of the French woman, her potassium levels and heart electrical activity returned to normal after abstaining from soda for just one week.

"One of the take-home messages is that cardiologists need to be aware of the connection between cola consumption and potassium loss, and should ask patients found to have QT prolongation about beverage habits," said study researcher Dr. Naima Zarqane, of Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco.

For this reason, he said, future studies should focus on whether those who drink cola excessive have lower potassium levels than those who don't.

Presented at the European Heart Rhythm Association meeting in Athens, Greece, the case report has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.