Drinking too much water can be life-threatening and should specifically be consumed only when an individual is thirsty, according to researchers at Loyola University Health System.
The researchers revealed that a condition called exercise-associated hyponatremia, which results from drinking too much water or even sports drinks, has killed about 14 athletes including marathon runners and football players.
That being said, preventing hyponatremia is not that difficult. New guidelines from an international expert panel show that if a person ensures that he/she is only drinking water when thirsty, hyponatremia can be avoided, according to reports on University Herald.
The guidelines published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine state that "using the innate thirst mechanism to guide fluid consumption is a strategy that should limit drinking in excess and developing hyponatremia while providing sufficient fluid to prevent excessive dehydration."
When the kidneys ability to excrete excess water load is defeated due to drinking too much fluid, exercise-associated hyponatremia occurs. In addition, Sodium in the body becomes diluted. This leads to swelling in cells, which can be life threatening.
Lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, puffiness and gaining weight during an athletic event are some of the symptoms of this condition. Severe symptoms include headache, altered mental status (such as confusion, agitation, and delirium), seizure and even coma.
According to the researchers, excessive fluid intake does not prevent heat stroke, muscle cramps or fatigue. Athletes are often mistakenly advised to "push fluids" or drink more than their thirst dictates by i.e. drinking until their urine is clear or drinking to a prescribed schedule.
James Winger, sports medicine physician at Loyola University Medical Center, said in a statement:
"Muscle cramps and heatstroke are not related to dehydration. You get heat stroke because you're producing too much heat."
The guidelines states Exercise-associated hyponatremia can be treated by simply administering a concentrated saline solution i.e. 3 percent sodium, about three times higher than the concentration in normal saline solution.
According to the new set of guidelines athletes, coaches and parents need to be mindful of fluid intake and balanced hydration before, during and immediately after physical activity, Daily Time Gazette noted.
But that's not enough, the panel even suggested that "educational efforts regarding the risks of overhydration should be encouraged and disseminated widely to athletes, coaches, and event management personnel."
"Every single EAH death is tragic and preventable, if we just listen to our bodies and let go of the pervasive advice that if a little is good, than more must be better," Dr. Hew-Butler, DPM, PhD, of Oakland University said.
