A bodybuilder was repeatedly hospitalized due to a mysterious heart condition triggered by drinking water, a phenomenon finally linked to his consumption of ice-cold H2O after workouts.
Franklin Aribeana, 35, from Houston, Texas, endured more than 25 hospital visits over several years before doctors identified the root cause — drinking icy water.
The freezing temperature of the water was believed to irritate his vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the heart.
This irritation, coupled with his high heart rate post-exercise, likely led to episodes of atrial fibrillation, a condition marked by erratic heartbeats.
Already managing an irregular heartbeat and an enlarged heart, Aribeana’s predisposition made him more susceptible to these irregular rhythms exacerbated by the cold water intake.
Describing his symptoms, Aribeana recounted to local media, “As I’m drinking the water, [I feel] probably the most noticeable thud in my chest… I’d never experienced it before. I am taking a gulp of cold water and as I am settling back down, I feel the double thud.”
During one incident on a golf course, he collapsed shortly after drinking cold water, experiencing palpitations and losing consciousness. This pattern persisted over the years until doctors intervened.
To address his condition, medical professionals cauterized the connection between Aribeana’s vagus nerve and his heart, effectively severing the link.
Cold water can trigger the vagus nerve due to what’s known as the “diving reflex,” typically elicited by exposure to cold water but occasionally activated by cold water in the throat.
This reflex normally causes a temporary slowing of the heart rate to conserve oxygen and a constriction of blood vessels in the extremities.
However, in individuals with underlying health issues, such as Aribeana’s enlarged heart chamber, it can lead to sudden drops in blood pressure and irregular heartbeats, resulting in collapses.
Following the procedure to sever the vagus nerve connection, Aribeana reported no further complications and can now drink cold water without adverse reactions.
Despite this improvement, he continues to manage his heart condition with medication linked to his genetic predisposition.
Dr. Khashayar Mematpour, a specialist in heart disease at Texas Medical Center, described Aribeana’s case as rare, noting that his genetic heart condition, exacerbated by the vagus nerve response to cold water, made atrial fibrillation more likely.
The vagus nerve, part of the autonomic nervous system controlling involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, runs from the brainstem to the abdomen via the throat.
Stimulation of this nerve by objects in the throat, such as cold water, can disrupt normal heart rhythms.
Complications involving the vagus nerve may arise from prior neck injuries, compression by surrounding tissues like enlarged blood vessels, or genetic conditions affecting heart function.
Diagnosis often involves tests to assess heart rate variability in response to changes in breathing pace.
