How Bruce Lee Died From Drinking Too Much Water: Researchers
Doctors believe they have solved the mystery of Bruce Lee's brain tumor.
The legendary actor and martial artist died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973, aged 32, of cerebral edema, which doctors now attribute to drinking too much water.
"We believe that Bruce Lee's kidneys were unable to excrete excess water," the researchers wrote in the next issue of the Clinical Kidney Journal. "Ironically, Lee made the line 'I know water, my friend' famous, but it seems that too much water has killed him in the end."
At the time, doctors thought it was caused by painful swelling of the brain, but nearly 50 years after his death in Operation Dragon, research showed that it was caused by hyponatremia, a low concentration of sodium in the blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can be caused by excess water or fluids in the body.
Investigators' conclusions about his death are far from what anyone knows: he was killed by gang members, poisoned by a jealous lover, cursed, and died in the heat.
The scientists found that Leek has several risk factors for hyponatremia, including high fluid intake, use of stimulants such as marijuana, and drugs that impair the kidneys' ability to excrete water, such as prescription drugs and alcohol. , previous kidney damage or a history of low solute intake.
Investigators looked into Lee's past history, which may have been related to the cause of his death, including excessive water consumption.
Lee's wife, Linda, once described his liquid diet as "carrot-apple juice." Matthew Polley, author of the 2018 book Bruce Lee: A Life, repeatedly mentions Lee's daily water intake, including why he got sick.
“I think we have water...that will make you a little tired and thirsty. After a few washes he seemed to be in a daze...Immediately after settling down, Bruce complained of a headache,” Paul wrote in his book.
The researchers considered evidence that daily activities, such as drinking water, consistently showed that Lee was consuming more than anything else on the day of his death.
Other factors in Lee's medical history that researchers believe may be important include cannabis, alcohol, low solutes, prescription drugs, diuretics, opioids, kidney problems, exercise and previous cerebral edema in the two months before his death. .
"We conclude that Bruce Lee died of a specific kidney problem: the inability to excrete enough water to maintain water homeostasis, which is primarily related to tubular function," the researchers said. "Excessive water intake, if not balanced by urine, can lead to hyponatremia, cerebral edema, and death within hours, consistent with Lee's timetable of death."
