Long-distance running often turns into not only serious body fatigue, but also nausea and dizziness.
Especially often unpleasant symptoms appear in those athletes who drink immediately after training and in large quantities. Together with sweat, the body loses fluid, and with it salts. The loss of sodium is especially dangerous, without it, the pressure in the cells changes, the result can be cerebral edema due to water that has penetrated to it.
What is hyponatremia?
Sodium ions in blood are most abundant in comparison with other substances. Their imbalance affects cell membranes and blood pressure. The normal sodium content is 150 mmol per liter of blood plasma. Excessive fluid intake or dehydration for various reasons leads to a decrease in sodium. A condition in which the concentration of a chemical is less than 135 mmol per liter is considered dangerous.
It will not work to recover simply by drinking water; Mineral water and various sports drinks can play its role. The main danger of the disease lies in its ability to provoke swelling of cells due to water seeping to them.
The brain is in greatest danger. Its swelling leads to dangerous symptoms and can be fatal.
The main causes of hyponatremia in those who run
Running makes metabolic processes accelerate, and the overall body temperature - to rise. The result is increased sweating and a feeling of thirst.
And here for the runner there are two dangers at once:
- The loss of essential fluid also leads to a reduction in plasma sodium levels.
- The inability or unwillingness to deny yourself the use of fluids while running turns into an excess of it, which can also disrupt the balance of chemical elements.
- Excess water immediately after the race. Such conditions are also called water poisoning.
Symptoms of hyponatremia
The swelling of the cells gives out the disease only if it affects the brain. An increase in intracranial pressure is mandatory.
Cerebral edema is accompanied by:
- The appearance of seizures or muscle spasms,
- Fatigue and weakness,
- Nausea, vomiting,
- Headache
- The appearance of confusion of consciousness, its clouding, seizures are possible.
Important! Blurred consciousness or a clear altered mental state requires immediate medical attention. Fatal cases of hyponatremia in athletes after heavy training are becoming more and more frequent.
Diagnosis of hyponatremia
- To determine the pathology, it is necessary to undergo an examination of blood and urine for the concentration of sodium in them.
- It is important to separate the disease from pseudohyponatremia. The latter arises as a result of the amount of proteins, glucose or triglycerides in the blood suspended. The aqueous phase of the plasma loses its healthy sodium concentration, but remains within the normal range in terms of whole plasma.
Why are runners at risk?
Running requires a lot of effort from a person, endurance, energy consumption. The development of hyponatremia in runners results from one of three possible causes:
- An untrained athlete who spends more than 4 hours at a distance drinks an amount of fluid that exceeds the loss of the body as a result of sweating.
- Professional long distance runners balance on the brink of dehydration. Incorrect calculation can lead to weight loss of up to 6%, which will certainly trigger the kidney fluid retention program.
- Lack of glucose and lack of necessary amount of water while covering the distance.
How to protect yourself?
- Compliance with the regime of water consumption. It is recommended to drink as much as you want an hour before training. 20-30 minutes before it should be limited to one glass of water. The presence of fluid will help to avoid overheating the body, not allowing you to immediately take an unbearably fast pace.
- Observe food rules. The athlete's diet must be balanced. After training, when hunger becomes demanding and distinct, it is recommended to give preference to juicy fruits or vegetables, such as watermelon or tomatoes.
Treatment of hyponatremia
The only way to get rid of pathology is to restore the water-salt balance in the body. The most effective were intravenous injections of the corresponding drugs.
If the patient's condition is not critical, then the treatment can be softer and at the same time prolonged with a gradual restoration of balance as a result of a change in diet and diet, fluid intake.
What should be examined?
The patient is examined for dehydration or the presence of fluid retention syndrome in the body, osmolarity and the immediate concentration of sodium in the fluid are checked. In case of suddenly developing hyponatremia, it is necessary to conduct studies of the state of the brain, to check the intracranial pressure.
What tests are needed?
Three types of analyzes are carried out:
- Blood and urine are tested for sodium. In the presence of pathology, the concentration in the urine will remain within the normal range or even be increased, while the blood will report a clear lack of a chemical element.
- The urine is tested for osmolarity.
- Checking for blood glucose and proteins.
Both experienced athletes and beginners are not immune from the development of hyponatremia. Some try to reduce fluid intake as much as possible in order to ensure the body can cope with a distance of more than 100 km. The result is often overheating of the body and catastrophic weight loss.
Others are too slow, they are on the treadmill for too long, and the task at hand exceeds their true capabilities. As a result, they drink too much liquid, trying to alleviate their condition, thereby inflicting a tangible blow on it.
