Homer Alaska - Lifestyles

Have you ever experienced extreme fatigue, headache and nausea after a long, heavy workout? Did you take a few minutes to recover, thinking you had just worked out a little too hard, only to find out that you still felt weak the moment you stood up? Chances are you were suffering from a mild bout of hyponatremia.

Hyponatremia occurs when there is not enough sodium in the body fluids circulating outside of the cells that maintain blood pressure and assist the function of nerves and muscles. The decrease in sodium may be caused by a number of medical conditions from burns to congestive heart failure as well as the consumption of water only during strenuous exercise.

Long, intense exercise depletes the body of water and sodium. To replenish these, athletes must drink sports drinks. When they don't and consume only water, the sodium levels drop in the fluids outside of the cells. To balance the concentration of salt inside and outside cells, water begins seeping into the cells, causing them to swell.

In most areas of the body, the swelling can be accommodated. In the brain, however, it cannot be and symptoms of hyponatremia may occur. Some of these may include confusion, convulsions, fatigue, hallucinations, headache, irritability, loss of appetite, restlessness, slurring, vomiting and muscle cramps, spasms and weakness.

Hyponatremia is serious and must be treated promptly. For mild cases, the consumption of sports drinks and salty foods may work. For more severe cases, medical treatment may be needed. This may include intravenous fluids, supplemental oxygen and medication. If left untreated, hyponatremia can result in coma, brain herniation and even death.

To prevent hyponatremia, athletes may take a number of actions. They should avoid training in the heat for long periods of times, which can result in heavy sweating and extreme sodium loss. During training and play, they should consume sports drinks and exercise good judgment. In the event that they suffer symptoms of hyponatremia, they should refrain from play and seek treatment immediately.

The next time you start to feel a little dizzy and nauseous when you are exercising, don't try to push past it. Take a break, have a sports drink and give your body time to recover. Should you continue to experience symptoms, see a doctor. You could be suffering from hyponatremia or some other condition that warrants treatment.