Just watching the story about the young lady that died from drinking the 2 gallons of water on Larry King live. Can anyone explain what really happened in her body (chemically) that caused her death?
2007-01-19 13:10:17 · 8 answers · asked by Lady Mandeville 6 in Health ➔ Other - Health
When a person drinks too much water in too short a time, the amount of sodium in the blood can be diluted, leading to a condition known as hyponatremia.
Our bodies are in a balance with how much water is inside the cells versus how much is outside the cells. This balance is maintained by electrolytes - mainly sodium and potassium. When the blood stream is "flooded" with extra water, the electrolyte balance is screwed up, and extra water will move into the cells by osmosis.
Electrolyte imbalance and tissue swelling can cause an irregular heartbeat, allow fluid to enter the lungs, and may cause fluttering eyelids. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days.
Hope that helps.
2007-01-19 13:22:23 · answer #1 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Drinking this much fluid severely dilutes the blood which carries electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium and chloride, to the cells. These electrolytes are critical in the proper functioning of cells and maintaining the correct pH of the body. The pH has a very narrow window of normal which is 7.35-7.45. The body won't survive a substantial decrease or increase outside these parameters. The other extremely critical element is the potassium level. That much fluid would drastically decrease the potassium level causing a fatal heart arrhythmia. Unless this lady would have collapsed in the presence of someone who could get help immediately, survival is tough. Some people develop disorders where they can't stop drinking such as Diabetes Insipidus. I could not believe that radio station ran such a contest.
2007-01-19 13:32:53 · answer #2 · answered by Sandy A, RN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drinking too much water quickly can dilute the blood, decreases osmolarity. Cells in the body take up some of the water because of the osmotic gradient. This causes swelling in many organs. The most dangerous is swelling of the nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which can cause dizziness, seizures, changes of the mental status, loss of consciousness and even death.
2007-01-19 13:24:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anna K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water intoxication.
She drank so much water that amount of salt and other minerals got too dilute. This can kill a person.
any more than a gal (4l) per day can be dangerous.
and quite a bit in one sitting can be dangerous.
more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication
2007-01-19 13:27:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-14 06:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look up water intoxication. It should have all the answers you need! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication this link is a good help in explaining it. I am not a doctor, so sorry if you didn't want my response, but I hope this helps.
2007-01-19 13:21:30 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically it upset the salt / acid base balance and caused her brain to over-swell
2007-01-19 13:20:19 · answer #7 · answered by N T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you was rude to me b*tch!
2007-01-20 09:48:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋