Question

When a person in the hospital is given fluids intravenously, the fluid is typically a saline (salt) solution with about the same water concentration as human body tissues. Explain how the use of distilled water (water without salt) in place of this saline solution would possibly upset the patients homeostasis.

Answer 1

Swelling of the red blood cells occurs.

Step-by-step explanation:

• Distilled water makes the blood hypotonic ,. that is a less concentrated solution, to the body tissues including the red blood cells.
• Therefore the water will enter the red blood cells and may cause them to lyse or swell.
• Additionally , water will enter the tissue spaces and cause sweling.
• But in the case of a hypertonic solution , ( a salt or saline solution ) , This swelling does not happen because the concentration of the saline will be equal or more than the blood.
• Thus the water will flow only from the blood to the solution. This will not cause swelling.
• But too much of salt is also not recommended.