A new study conducted by kidney specialists in Spain suggests that Bruce Lee died from drinking too much water.
Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973, with officials ruling at the time that it was due to cerebral oedema (Brain swelling). A new research paper published in the December 2022 edition of the Clinical Kidney Journal stated that it was due to his “kidney’s inability to excrete excess water.”
Bruce Lee was 32 at the time of his death and the researchers believe that he possessed “multiple risk factors for hyponatremia.” This means that there is an abnormally low sodium concentrate in the blood.
The researchers noted that he had a “chronic fluid intake” use of marijuana. Marijuana is known to increase thirst.
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Additionally, he took prescription drugs, drank alcohol and had a history of organ injuries.
“We hypothesize that Bruce Lee died from a specific form of kidney dysfunction: the inability to excrete enough water to maintain water homeostasis… This may lead to hyponatremia, cerebral oedema and death within hours if excess water intake is not matched by water excretion in urine.
“Given that hyponatremia is frequent, as is found in up to 40% of hospitalized persons and may cause death due to excessive water ingestion even in young healthy persons, there is a need for a wider dissemination of the concept that excessive water intake can kill.”
Water intoxication, as it is often referred to, has been observed many times before. Medical News Today notes that it can happen in many instances, including sports training when athletes intake too much water.
Lee’s abrupt death has been subject to theories before. Some fans believed he was even assassinated. A 2018 book called “Bruce Lee: A Life,” hypothesized that it was due to heat exhaustion. However, the current study did not find that his temperature was abnormally high that day.
This current study hypothesizes that although he did not consume a large amount of water the day of his death, his kidneys were potentially unable to handle normal fluid amounts.
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