How does a person die from drinking too much water?

Answer 1

As human beings are creatures of chemicals, there can always be too much of a good thing. The human body contains many different chemicals called electrolytes that the body depends on for normal functioning. However, these electrolytes must be within a very stable concentration in order to work properly. If a person takes in more water than they can remove, these electrolytes become diluted and the person goes into what is called water intoxication of hyperhydration. In fact, the theory of sports drinks like Gatorade is that if a drink contains not just water, but the correct concentration of electrolytes, there is minimal risk of water intoxication. People on a low-sodium diet are at higher risk of water intoxication, but the people who should truly be concerned are marathon runners, who by nature drink lots and lots of water. However, most people are much more likely to suffer the opposite end of the spectrum: dehydration.

Answer 2

Hours after competing in a radio station contest to win a Nintendo Wii, 28-year-old Jennifer Strange was found dead in her California home. The station's "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" challenge awarded the game system to the contestant who could drink the most water without having to take a trip to the bathroom. According to preliminary autopsy reports, Ms. Strange apparently died from drinking too much water too quickly, resulting in a condition called water intoxication.

At its most basic, water intoxication occurs when a person drinks so much water that the other nutrients in the body become diluted to the point that they can no longer do their jobs. You've probably heard the term electrolyte before. Many sports drinks provide electrolytes in addition to fluids. Electrolytes are simply salt ions, atoms with an overall positive or negative charge. Cells use electrolytes to move fluids and nerve messages into and out of cells and throughout the body. Without electrolytes, the body can't function. Water intoxication causes an electrolyte imbalance. This imbalance affects concentrations of the ion sodium, and it leads to a condition called hyponatremia.

In cases of water intoxication, it is extreme hyponatremia that can ultimately cause coma and death. If it's caught early, treatment with IV fluids containing electrolytes can lead to a complete recovery. But, if left untreated, hyponatremia is fatal. Water intoxication is basically one form of hyponatremia. The condition can also be caused by excessive sweating, prolonged dehydration and other diseases and conditions.

So, what exactly happens when someone dies of hyponatremia as a result of water intoxication? The severe sodium imbalance causes massive cell damage. Sodium is a positively charged ion, and its role in the body is to circulate the fluids outside of cells. As a result, sodium helps regulate blood pressure and maintain the signals that let muscles operate properly, among other things. Cells actively maintain a precise sodium concentration in the body. Inside the cell, there are more electrolytes; outside the cell, there is more water. Cells keep sodium levels healthy by moving water and electrolytes into and out of the cell to either dilute or increase sodium levels in body fluids. But when someone drinks a tremendous amount of water in a short period of time, and the water does not contain any added electrolytes, the cellular maintenance system can't handle the level of sodium dilution that occurs.

The result is that cells desperately try to increase the sodium concentration in body fluids by taking in tremendous amounts of water. Some cells can swell a great deal; others cannot. Brain cells, which are packed tightly inside the skull, can end up bursting with the pressure of the water they are taking in.

The exact amount of water you would have to consume to suffer from water intoxication is unknown. It varies with each individual. Symptoms of water intoxication include nausea, headache, muscle weakness and convulsions. In severe cases, coma and death come fairly quickly as a result of brain swelling. The condition is quite rare in the general population, but in distance athletics, it's a known risk. Athletes try to avoid it by drinking sports drinks instead of water during training and events.

Answer:

Here's a more precise statistic: an adult can process up to about one liter (quart) of excess water per hour. More than that amount per hour over several hours (or all at once), can be dangerous, for the reason given in the above answer. If you spread your water intake around over the course of the day (like 1-2 cups per hour), it won't hurt you.

Answer 3

Yes. Someone died a year or two ago in a radio station contest with a prize to the one who drank the most water. Google it. I'm not doing your research for you. You can also get drunk on too much water. A 4-year-old girl died after her adoptive parents forced her to drink water as punishment for sneaking juice. The water lowered the concentration of sodium in her blood, causing her brain to swell. Water overdoes is the reason why sports drinks such as Gatorade are so popular. They replenish electrolytes in the athlete's blood stream, as well as rehydrate them.

Answer 4

Yes you can. It is called Hyper-hydration or water intoxication.

The primary issue is that the vast quantity of water will wash out many of the nutrients and minerals the body requires to operate properly. The body has to maintain a balance of electrolytes in the bloodstream and tissues. Cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) is another serious risk.

But this requires a substantial amount of water. Children have had fatal reactions to less than 3 liters of water over a few hours. But in adults, the critical amount would be more than 7 or 8 liters in a day, as properly functioning kidneys can remove much of the excess water.
Yes you can. If you drink to much water you can drown your cells.The amount of water varies based on your weight,physical fitness,and athletic activities.
Yes, it is possible to die of water intoxication/water poisoning. However, this requires you to drink excessive amounts of water (over a gallon) every day for an extended period of time.

Answer 5

People do not drown from drinking water. A person can only drown if water enters the lungs.

Answer 6

It is not likely, requires HUGE amounts of water, you would be more likely to throw up first, but yes, it is possible. Not likely, but possible.

Answer 7

well, it depends. if you drink sooo much water and your blader fills up so much where you try to hold in, you can get a bad bladder infection, and possibly, it CAN kill you.

Answer 8

Yes. It's called drowning.