 Hyponatremia is a
condition known as "water intoxication."
It is the opposite of dehydration, and
is often associated with long distance events like running and
cycling. Moreover, it’s not an
unusual problem, and you can develop it in a few hours.
As
you consume large amounts of water over the course of a day, blood
plasma (the liquid part of blood) increases thereby diluting the salt content of the blood. At the same time, your
body also loses salt by sweating. Consequently,
the amount of electrolytes available to your body tissues decreases over
time to a point where that loss interferes with brain, heart, and muscle
function! You have to replace these
electrolytes! They're essential to the normal electro-chemical operation of
your nervous system.
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Though
the condition is opposite to dehydration, the
symptoms generally mirror those of dehydration (apathy, confusion, nausea, and
fatigue), although some individuals show no symptoms at all.
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If untreated, hyponatremia can lead to coma and even death.
Drink the RIGHT fluids! If you can't mix your own solution of
the above formula (or don't care for its taste), Pedialyteâ
(or the generic equivalent) is a great source and its readily available at
any market or pharmacy in a variety of flavors. As a drawback, it is
a little expensive. As a cheaper alternative, some
sports drinks are a fair source of replacement electrolytes -- though they tend
to have excess sugar for that quick energy burst.
Look for brands such as Gatorade™
that try to match the body's natural levels of potassium, citrate and sodium chloride.
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If you have to watch your sodium or glucose intake, consider taking
sodium- and glucose-free electrolyte tablets called Electrol. This is perhaps the least
expensive option of all, but make sure you drink enough fresh water.
These tablets are available from the following company:
Otis Clapp and Buffington
Box 9160
Canton, MA. 02021
(617) 821-5400
custserv@otisclapp.com
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Another option may be to eat a banana each day or so, and have a
little extra salt with meals while on field excursions. Note that
bananas do not travel well in a daypack.
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DO NOT drink soda, iced tea, coffee, or alcohol.
These are all diuretics and none contain the electrolytes you'll be in
need of.
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