Why do people die from drinking too much water?

Question

I read an article yesterday about a woman that died from drinking too much water. It was for a contest on a radio show, and she drank like 2 gallons of water.
What I don't understand is: Why did she die?

Answer 1

Okay, Human Anatomy 101. Saline(salt) is necessary to assist in the transportation of vital nutrients and other needed stuff throughout the body. When there is not enough saline, the body cannot do this properly. When you drink too much water, the saline content of your blood drops way down. This can lead to the inability of your blood to deliver those vital nutrients and, most importantly, oxygen to your body as needed. Basically it's like this: Without enough water, we(human beings) can die of dehydration. With too much water, we can basically drowned ourselves out of the stuff we need to keep our bodies going properly.

Answer 2

It throws their electrolytes off to the point that their body literal becomes swelled with water and the body gets to the point of not being able to get rid of it. That is why athletes drink electrolyte drinks like Gatoraid and not tons of water.

Answer 3

Too add to the first answer, along with the body swelling, the brain also swells until you start to have seizures and spasms. Its an awful way to die!

Answer 4

It's called hypervolemic (too much volume) shock. It's just as bad as hypovolemic (too little volume).

Answer 5

You body can only flush so much of the fluids it takes in.Liquid forms around your heart causing congestive heart failure.

Answer 6

Wierd as this may sound, water intoxication.

Answer 7

cuz water can clean our bodies

Answer 8

It's call drowning....