Why will drinking 6 liters of water in 3 hours kill you?
In: Biology
That would be considered water intoxication.
Your body needs water to do a ton of functions, especially as a necessary fluid for plasma. Plasma carries your red blood cells, nutrients, and other important compounds like electrolytes through your body. Electrolyte and glucose balance is the biggest key for proper bodily function and an imbalance can be created from acute water intoxication. Electrolytes are compounds used for neurological and muscular function, for example your heart or brain, as well as cellular function. When you drink too much water, the concentration of those electrolytes in your plasma thins out, reducing their distribution and organ effectiveness. If the excess water is not purged and electrolytes not replaced, you’ll start to have organ failure as they misfire, cellular death, etc. Sweating can increase electrolyte loss as well.
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