what is water poisoning??

Answer 1

The fact that water can cause fatal overdoses is not well known, however, recently a young woman died after consuming too much water in too short a time (I think it was 2 gallons in 2 or 3 hours). Often called "water intoxication" or "hyponatremia" (low salt)1, water poisoning results when too much water is ingested in too short a time without replenishing electrolytes, particularly sodium and potassium.

The human body (as with other animals) maintains an equilibrium of electrolytes in the bloodstream as part of its normal operation. Sweating causes the body to lose salt, but the primary cause of hyponatremia is drinking enormous amounts of water, which dilutes the salt in the body to a dangerous level. As the electrolyte levels get dangerously out of balance, body systems begin to fail and the sufferer exhibits signs of crisis such as diarrhea, over-salivation, stupor, vomiting, muscle tremors, confusion, frequent urination and other general symptoms of illness, and their brain begins to swell. This swelling is called a 'brain edema' or 'cerebral edema' and can lead to brain damage, paralysis, and sometimes death.

Answer 2

I think you are asking about water intoxication.

Water intoxication (also known as hyperhydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by a very rapid intake of water.

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.

Answer 3

The woman who sadly, recently died from water poisoning was said to have drank 2 gallons of water over a short period of time. Doing this can throw your body chemistry way off .. and the result can be death. Also, there have been cases of people who have died at "Raves" using Extasy. I remember of at least one teenager that died from water poisoning at a Rave because Extasy can make you very thirsty. She kept drinking water, (lots of it), all that night and died the next day. Good Luck ! :)

Answer 4

Denise is right, if what you are talking about is water intoxication. If you drink too much water without urinating your bladder can explode (it will explode before allowing anything to flow backwards because that would kill your kidneys) , but the woman who died in the contest a couple of days ago died because she lost salt and electrolytes, which are necessary for your body to maintain a balance called homeostasis.

Answer 5

Drinking enormous amounts of water dilutes the salt in the body to a dangerous level. As the electrolyte levels get dangerously out of balance, body systems begin to fail and the sufferer exhibits signs of crisis such as diarrhea, over-salivation, stupor, vomiting, muscle tremors, confusion, frequent urination and other general symptoms of illness, and their brain begins to swell. This swelling is called a 'brain edema' or 'cerebral edema' and can lead to brain damage, paralysis, and sometimes death.

Answer 6

Drinking too much water in too short a time can throw off the chemical balance in the body and lead to death, just as it did for that women trying to win a radio contest that was in the newspapers a few days ago.

Answer 7

Hydrogen and Oxygen make up what water is.
Both are poison. In the right amount - everything is a-ok. But over doing it (2 gallons, for example) can create a toxic reaction.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

It's when a person drinks so much water that his body chemistry is altered to the point that he becomes sick or, in severe cases, dies.

Answer 10

It is when you drink too much water, which lowers your body's salt content and makes you sick. Marathon runners can experience this.