What happened?

[biocraz]

I am wondering if someone drank a plenty of sea water(high salt concentration) does it affect his health? Because i though animal cells tend to loose water through osmosis when the were placed in hypertonic solutions. So whick part of our body will lose water?? Is it the cells in our alimentary canals or our blood cells?

[MrMistery]

If you drink sea water you will throw up. It is an unconditioned reflex.

[biocraz]

thanks for your reply. i am just wondering if you drink some salt water, this is a question from my exam paper.

[mith]

well, the water flows from an area of less solute to more solute(salt water). So the cells immediately affected would be the ones in the alimentary canal since they are closest, and they will lose water. But since there is more water in other parts of the body than the cells that experienced the loss, water would flow to them. In short, every cell would be affected.

[victor]

In some countries, if someone got a diarrhea, they would drink some salt solution isn't it?? well, I got a little bit explanation from this, salt solution contains Na+ ions and the leve of Na+ is maintained constantly by using the Na pump in the cell. I also read that, too much Na+ ions in all of the sudden will affect damage in the nerve cell.

[mith]

that's to replace the electrolytes you're missing from the diarrhea. I remember they used to recommend a pinch of salt with coconut milk.

[MrMistery]

i think they recommend drinking mineral water, not salt water. And if it is salt walter, it should be at a low concentration

[victor]

Yup, low concentration...because high concentration would kill you..

[MrMistery]

No, it wouldn't. Because as i said, you will trow up immediately. but it wouldn't be too pleasant