How can you prevent hyponatremia from happening during exercise?
The primary strategy to prevent EAH is to avoid overdrinking during exercise. Because fluid losses through sweat and urine are highly dynamic and variable across individuals participating in a variety of outdoor activities, recommending fixed ranges of fluid intake are not appropriate and even potentially dangerous.
What happens during exercise-associated hyponatremia?
Symptoms may be absent or mild for the early onset of EAH and can include impaired exercise performance, nausea, vomiting, headache, bloating, and swelling of hands, legs, and feet. As water retention increases, weight gain may also occur. More severe symptoms include pulmonary edema and hyponatremic encephalopathy.
What are some key signs and symptoms of exertional hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia signs and symptoms may include:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Headache.
- Confusion.
- Loss of energy, drowsiness and fatigue.
- Restlessness and irritability.
- Muscle weakness, spasms or cramps.
- Seizures.
- Coma.
What is the main cause of hyponatremia during prolonged exercise?
In 2015, the Third International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference concluded that the primary etiology and mechanism leading to EAH was the overconsumption of hypotonic fluids likely in combination with non-osmotic stimulation of AVP secretion (9).
How do athletes prevent hyponatremia?
Limit pre-hydration with just water. This can lower blood sodium before the event begins and already puts the athlete behind in their sodium intake plan. Eat high salt foods or drinks with higher amounts of sodium just before training or racing. Don’t overdrink after training or competition.
What should athletes do to prevent hyponatremia during prolonged sports events?
It has been suggested that athletes restrict fluid intake to no more than 400—800 ml per hour during exercise to reduce the risk of hyponatremia (Noakes, 2002). This is sound advice for those athletes who sweat at such low rates, but faulty advice for those who sweat substantially more.
How is exertional hyponatremia treated?
Severe EAH should be rapidly treated with 100-mL intravenous boluses of hypertonic saline, which may be repeated every 10 minutes for three total boluses. These doses increase serum sodium by up to 2 mEq per L and do not increase risk of osmotic demyelination.
Can too much exercise cause hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is a condition of low sodium concentration in the blood. Prolonged overhydration during exercise is the primary cause of all forms of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) and should be avoided.
Can sports drinks help hyponatremia?
Sports drinks don’t appear to prevent hyponatremia. A study of marathoners by Harvard-based researchers found that 13% had some degree of hyponatremia, and that it was just as likely to happen among those who guzzled sports drinks during the marathon as it was among those who stuck with water.
Will eating salt help hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia and Excess Water
“Usually, it has pretty much nothing to do with salt.” The excess water dilutes the sodium, resulting in a lower concentration of sodium in the blood.
What is the fastest way to fix hyponatremia?
Treatment
- Intravenous fluids. Your doctor may recommend IV sodium solution to slowly raise the sodium levels in your blood.
- Medications. You may take medications to manage the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia, such as headaches, nausea and seizures.
Is Gatorade Good for hyponatremia?
In athletes with hyponatremia, low serum sodium levels have been corrected with the administration of an isotonic beverage. Therefore, giving Gatorade® to patients with hyponatremia may be an alternative treatment method to increase serum sodium levels.
What is the fastest way to cure hyponatremia?
How long does it take to correct hyponatremia?
The rate of sodium correction should be 6 to 12 mEq per L in the first 24 hours and 18 mEq per L or less in 48 hours.