Hyponatremia!!??

[Henley 1]

Before and during last weekend's half IM at Buffelspoort I drank enough (believe me - enough) water and juices. halfway into the run I even pulled off for a no 1 in the bushes - good news. But it was very hot. My race went OK (by my standards) and I finished OK (by my standards).

However, within minutes after the race I started feeling very tired and somewhat dizzy and so weak I could not carry a bicycle. It was embarrassing to have the paramedic guys give me oxygen and measuring blood sugar level (which seemed OK). blood pressure was little low at around 100/70

Admitting that I stopped stuffing myself with fluids from about 20 minutes before race finish, only drinking again from about half hour after the race

I friend tells me that Hyponatremia  is the culprit: too little sodium in the blood because of sweating so much in the heat and drinking water and sugar solutions only. Not having met this Hyponatremia  chap before, I googled him/her

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia

 

do some of you know him/her better that I do?

 

 

[DJR]

Very serious issue this. Many an endurance athlete has died from it. In the 1980s and 90s athletes were encouraged to drink as much as possible. That was the direct cause of an epidemic of deaths in marathon running. The guidelines then changed to drink only to thirst and the deaths from hyponatremia all but stopped. It was since found that slight to moderate dehydration is better and less of a danger. 

[Surv0MTB]

Yes big time, if its hot, I sweat alot and always carry extra salts with me and electrolyte drinks.

 

Have felt like this before and it was death.. now I over cater to prevent it happening at all.

[porqui]

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt in your bottle of juice.

[V12man]

Read Tim Noakes' book "Waterlogged" - the subject is covered pretty well....

[Henley 1]

AEH - exercise associated hyponatremia. Tim Noakes .... :-)

I am aware of the origins of that book - and read it. The Sadler lady and the Comrades. Her husband Mike worked with me.

What do you do when it is very hot and you are racing and sweating Dr Noakes? it is one thing saying everybody is wrong but another to provide a solution. More athletes get dehydrated than overhydrated right? (albeit that dehydration is "safer" than over-hydration)

 

I don't think I drank too much. after going into the bushes somewhat into the run, I used the toilet again only about another 12 hours after the race! that's not overhydration.

 

My stupid mind says lack of table salt  was probably the cause. there are commercial sports drink doing just that. Maybe I should change brands of add the half teaspoon of above

[DJR]

The solution is very simple. Drink only when you feel thirst, drink little bits at a time, drink something that will replenish electrolytes. Your best bet is a good energy drink or water with Rehydrate. The important thing is not to drink too much plain water.

 

From what you said above it would seem that you did drink too much. You had lots of fluid beforehand. You had to stop to wee halfway. After the hyponatremia developed, you will not feel the need to wee anymore, that is exactly why it develops. Fluid just kept accumulating, diluting the sodium you had left to help brain and muscles function. The fact that it took a long time afterwards before you had to wee again also support the above theory.   

[Davey_Jones]

Dont use table salt guy, this is just a highly processed chemical compound.  Use sea salt or rock salt which will have other healthy trace minerals in.

[Sidewinder.]

The solution is very simple. Drink only when you feel thirst, drink little bits at a time, drink something that will replenish electrolytes. Your best bet is a good energy drink or water with Rehydrate. The important thing is not to drink too much plain water.

 

From what you said above it would seem that you did drink too much. You had lots of fluid beforehand. You had to stop to wee halfway. After the hyponatremia developed, you will not feel the need to wee anymore, that is exactly why it develops. Fluid just kept accumulating, diluting the sodium you had left to help brain and muscles function. The fact that it took a long time afterwards before you had to wee again also support the above theory.   

+1 for Rehydrate, also the bomb if you have a bad headache after a ride.

[Ratty]

+1 for Rehydrate, also the bomb if you have a bad headache after a ride.

 

100% agree.  The moment I am in heat I drink rehydrate afterwards and it helps so much. Actually can't believe the difference it makes.  No more headaches a few hours after a ride.

[Pulse]

Decrease in urine production post even does not necessarily equate to hyponatremia.  There are multiple factors at play.  Most individuals that feel lethargic and weak post event does not suffer from low sodium levels.

 

Various factors could negatively influence kidney function; including any drugs (anti-inflammatories, pain, etc.) that may have been ingested, dehydration, etc.

 

The biggest issue with hyponatremia was the old American Collage of Sports Medicine's guidelines on how to hydrate before, during, and after events.  This was the main cause of problems in the Comrades in the olden days.

 

As for energy drink.  Most of them are isotonic, or near isotonic as far as electrolytes are concerned.  It would be advisable to mix them up a bit, as the concentrations of various compounds vary between brands.  Strangely enough Coke has some of the best electrolyte concentrations around.

 

Remember hyponatremia is also called "water intoxication" - drink to thirst and most people will be fine

[V12man]

Decrease in urine production post even does not necessarily equate to hyponatremia.  There are multiple factors at play.  Most individuals that feel lethargic and weak post event does not suffer from low sodium levels.

Decrease in urine production combined with NSAID useage is protentially fatal - seen 2 cyclists with this in the last couple of years.

 

Bottom line - avoid NSAID usage during endurance excercise.

[arabsandals]

Dont use table salt guy, this is just a highly processed chemical compound.  Use sea salt or rock salt which will have other healthy trace minerals in.

Bollocks. Next you'll be telling us that GMOs are bad and that Monsanto is the bogeyman.

[eddy]

+1 for Rehydrate, also the bomb if you have a bad headache after a ride.

 

And also if you have a bad headache after a dop or two.

 

(hi-jack off)

[Rocket-Boy]

Decrease in urine production post even does not necessarily equate to hyponatremia.  There are multiple factors at play.  Most individuals that feel lethargic and weak post event does not suffer from low sodium levels.

 

Various factors could negatively influence kidney function; including any drugs (anti-inflammatories, pain, etc.) that may have been ingested, dehydration, etc.

 

The biggest issue with hyponatremia was the old American Collage of Sports Medicine's guidelines on how to hydrate before, during, and after events.  This was the main cause of problems in the Comrades in the olden days.

 

As for energy drink.  Most of them are isotonic, or near isotonic as far as electrolytes are concerned.  It would be advisable to mix them up a bit, as the concentrations of various compounds vary between brands.  Strangely enough Coke has some of the best electrolyte concentrations around.

 

Remember hyponatremia is also called "water intoxication" - drink to thirst and most people will be fine

Coke and Eno is my silver bullet cure for recovery at the end of a big race.

Not sure why it works but it does.

[Pulse]

 

Bottom line - avoid NSAID usage during endurance excercise.

 

Absolutely!