Redazione RHC : 11 August 2025 10:34
Blindly relying on ChatGPT for fitness advice or meal plans can be risky. Even health recommendations provided by artificial intelligence can be life-threatening. A recent case demonstrates this: a 60-year-old man from New York ended up in the hospital after strictly following ChatGPT’s advice to drastically reduce his salt intake.
According to doctors, the man had been cutting out almost all sodium from his diet for several weeks, causing a dangerous drop in blood sodium levels, a condition known as hyponatremia. The family stated that the man had relied on the AI-generated meal plan without consulting a doctor first.
A few days ago, experts stated that medical advice provided by AI should not be followed, as it is not yet sufficiently developed to replace a doctor. It is possible that AI will replace doctors in the future, but for now, advice related to illnesses should be avoided. However, the man was discharged from the hospital and returned home after receiving the necessary treatment.
According to an article in Times of India, which reported the news, it was once used medicinally in the 20th century, but is now considered poisonous in large quantities. Following this advice, the man purchased sodium bromide online. He used it in place of salt in his food for three months. During this time, he did not consult a doctor. This mistake cost him his health, and he had to be hospitalized.
The man had not previously suffered from any mental or physical illness. But after taking sodium bromide, many serious problems began. He began to experience extreme fear, delusions, extreme thirst, and even mental confusion. When he was admitted to the hospital, he was so scared that he even refused to drink water. In fact, he felt as if something had mixed with the water. Investigations revealed that the man was suffering from “bromide intoxication.”
In the hospital, doctors restored the water and electrolyte balance in the sixty-year-old’s body. After three weeks of treatment, his condition improved. He was discharged from the hospital when his sodium and chloride levels returned to normal.
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