The number of people who get hooked on sport increases and, progressively, their body and mind demand that they raise the level, go further and further, and constantly try to overcome their own limits. In this way, you go from running a few kilometers on the street to doing half marathons , then to full marathons, ultra-endurance competitions running or cycling , triathlons to mix disciplines, and even the very tough Ironman for the most daring. Improvements in physical capacity bring many benefits to the athlete’s health , but if you want to take steps too quickly or do not take other aspects into account, they can also entail new risks: this is the case of hyponatremia , a serious problem caused by a Incorrect hydration that especially affects runners or endurance athletes, and in the worst cases can even lead to death.
Hyponatremia is a disorder in the body that occurs when the concentration of sodium in the blood drops below 135 millimol/liter . The lower this level drops, the more serious the consequences will be for the health of the sufferer: from gastrointestinal problems such as nausea – which indicate that it is the ideal time to stop sporting activity and avoid further risks, as well as the need to eat food. salty foods–, through severe headaches, vomiting, respiratory problems, exaggerated fatigue or disorientation, which can lead to more serious symptoms such as seizures, brain damage, coma, or cardiorespiratory collapse that could lead to death.
This happens because, suddenly, a quantity of water reaches the brain, inflaming it, and triggering the aforementioned responses.
Causes of hyponatremia during sports practice
The causes of hypotonic hyponatremia in the athlete can be due to either excess or defect of hydration . This is so for two different reasons, but with the same consequences:
- In the event that the athlete ingests a much larger amount of fluid than is lost through sweat or urine, this decompensates the proportion of sodium in the blood.
- Dehydration is another way in which hyponatremia can occur, since a large amount of sodium can be lost through sweat without having been recovered by another means such as, for example, drinking .
The best way to prevent hyponatremia in these cases is to make sure you are well hydrated – without overdoing it, because the risk would increase – or by eating salty foods to recover the sodium that is lost through sweating.
Another possible reason for the appearance of this disorder is the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone response (SIADH) , which reduces urine production, making it difficult for the body to eliminate fluid and facilitating overhydration. The syndrome can appear for various reasons, such as the consumption of certain medications or suffering from certain diseases, and that is why it is so important to consult a doctor before doing intense exercise, and even more so if you are under pharmacological treatment.
Hyponatremia doesn’t just affect runners
Furthermore, hyponatremia is not exclusive to athletes or people who suffer from kidney disease. And when a person drinks much more than his body can urinate or sweat , the excess fluid will cause the sodium in the plasma to decrease. This is why you have to drink according to the body’s needs and not following standard advice that is not individualized for each person and is only indicative.
It is very difficult for a person doing moderate activity, or at rest, to suffer from hyponatremia. And if someone practicing a sport with a mild-moderate demand, or in a resting situation, suffers from it, it is likely that it is a clinical manifestation of a more serious illness, so it is necessary to go to a doctor immediately. to do a study to find out why the disorder has occurred.
