Excessive fluid intake can harm athletes - Brief Article

AORN Journal, Jan, 2004

Although runners and other endurance athletes are familiar with the dangers of dehydration during exercise, many are unaware that drinking too much water may be even more harmful, according to an Oct 30, 2003, news release from McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals and the American Medical Athletic Association. Exercise-related hyponatremia can occur during prolonged sports activities, such as marathons, triathlons, long-distance hiking, or bicycling, when fluid intake leg, water, sports drinks) exceeds fluid loss.

Water reduces the body's salts. When blood contains too much water and too little sodium, brain cells absorb too much water, swell, and push against the skull. This condition can result in nausea, fatigue, disorientation, and vomiting. Severe cases may lead to seizures, coma, or even death.

Any endurance athlete who consumes large amounts of fluid may be at risk for hyponatremia. Those who are most prone to the condition include women, people with slower marathon finishing times (ie, more than four hours), and runners who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in close proximity to race time.

Some steps runners can take to avoid hyponatremia include

* weighing themselves before and after a Long training run to determine if their body retains fluid during exercise;

* substituting acetaminophen for NSAIDS for pain relief before a race;

* avoiding overdrinking lie, no more than 16 oz to 24 oz one to two hours before a race and moderate amounts during a race); and

* stopping all fluid intake and seeking medical assistance if symptoms, such as confusion, progressive headache, nausea, or vomiting occur.

Runners Beware: Over-Hydration Can Be Note Dangerous than Dehydration (news release, Ft Washington, Pa: McNeil Consumer & 5pedalty Pharmaceuticals, American Medical Athletic Association, Oct 30, 2003) http://www.prnewswire.com (accessed 30 Oct 2003).