What is water intoxication?

Answer 1

Physiology of water intoxication
Body fluids contain electrolytes (particularly sodium compounds, such as sodium chloride) in concentrations that must be held within very narrow limits. Water enters the body orally or intravenously and leaves the body primarily in the urine, sweat and by exhaled water vapour. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, body fluids are diluted and a potentially dangerous shift in electrolyte balance occurs.

Most water intoxication is caused by hyponatremia, an overdilution of sodium in the blood plasma, which in turn causes an osmotic shift of water from extracellular fluid (outside of cells) to intracellular fluid (within cells). The cells swell as a result of changes in osmotic pressure and may cease to function. When this occurs in the cells of the central nervous system and brain, water intoxication is the result. Additionally, many other cells in the body may undergo cytolysis, wherein cell membranes that are unable to stand abnormal osmotic pressures rupture, killing the cells. Initial symptoms typically include light-headedness, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, headache and/or malaise. Plasma sodium levels below 100 mmol/L (2.3g/L) frequently result in cerebral edema, seizures, coma, and death within a few hours of drinking the excess water. As with alcohol poisoning, the progression from mild to severe symptoms may occur rapidly as the water continues to enter the body from the stomach or intravenously.

A person with two healthy kidneys can excrete about 1.5 litres (0.39 gallons)[citation needed] of water per hour at maximum filtration (other studies find the limit to be as little as 0.9L/h (0.24 gal)[2]). Consuming as little as 1.8 litres of water (0.48 gal) in a single sitting may prove fatal for a person adhering to a low-sodium diet, or 3 litres (0.79 gallons) for a person on a normal diet. However, this must be modulated by potential water losses via other routes. For example, a person who is perspiring heavily may lose 1 L/h (0.26 gal) of water through perspiration alone, thereby raising the threshold for water intoxication. The problem is further complicated by the amount of electrolytes lost in urine or sweat, which is variable within a range controlled by the body's regulatory mechanisms. Water intoxication can be prevented by consuming water that is isotonic with water losses, but the exact concentration of electrolytes required is difficult to determine and fluctuates over time, and the greater the time period involved, the smaller the disparity that may suffice to produce electrolyte imbalance and water intoxication.

Sodium is not the only mineral that can become overdiluted from excessive water intake. Magnesium is also excreted in urine. "Magnesium deficiency can cause metabolic changes that may contribute to heart attacks and strokes."[3] Intravenous magnesium is used in cardiac care units for cardiac arrhythmias.[4]

Answer 2

that's an excessive amount of water in a brief interval of time, why have been you doing this?? consuming to a lot water can in realistic phrases drown your frame, you'll get close to the identical signs you get whilst your dehdrated, headach vulnerable and vomiting, if you happen to begin feeling like that you then must move in your er. Im no longer a dr so i can't say if to be able to occur however be wary and subsequent time dont drink such a lot directly, a eight ounce glass each and every couple of hours will suite you simply exceptional. Oh and in case your doing sporting activities or understanding, take small sips during your exercise or endeavor, and that i do join runners journal and they've a wide variety of articles on consuming to a lot water, an olympic runner died from it due to the fact she drank option to a lot water even as she used to be strolling, it's correctly a real announcement, so once more, watch out and in the course of vigurous activitys small sips . gkood good fortune

Answer 3

Water Intoxication is when you drink more water than your body can handle. It flushes all of the salts out of your body (which your body needs to function), can cause kidney damage, and death.

Answer 4

The excessive water dilutes your electrolytes & when they are out of balance it leads to all kinds of problems... too long off , it leads to death.

Answer 5

drinking too much water