The scariest symptoms hit your brain, and they hit fast. Headache is the opening act—and not the kind you shake off with ibuprofen. As your brain cells swell, they press against your skull, creating a dull, throbbing pain that screams “something is wrong.”
Then comes nausea and vomiting, because your body is desperately trying to eject the excess fluid. “But I’m just hydrating!” you protest, reaching for another bottle. Meanwhile, your stomach is staging a full rebellion.
If you ignore these early warnings, things get surreal. Confusion and disorientation creep in like a foggy morning; you might fumble words or feel suddenly clumsy. It’s the same neurological hiccup that happens in extreme exhaustion—except here, your brain is literally swelling.
