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salt association |
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novice runners Running low on salt? Growing enthusiasm for marathon running is putting an ever increasing number of novice runners at serious risk from hyponatraemia – low concentration of sodium in the blood – because they take on too much water. With some 32,000 runners taking part in the London Marathon and 47,000 in the Great North Run, the drive to complete 26 gruelling miles has never been greater. But many are not aware that serious illness or even death could result from mistakenly drinking so much water that they alter the delicate balance of blood-sodium concentration. Adequate sodium in our bodies is vital for transmitting nerve impulses and proper muscle function – even slight depletion can cause problems. Warning signs for runners include nausea, cramps, disorientation, slurred speech and confusion. The instinct to simply drink more water will, however, make matters worse. What’s needed is to drink a sodium sports drink or eat salty foods. If the symptoms persist, you need to see a doctor. A study of runners in the Boston Marathon found that 13 per cent developed hyponatraemia. It has been shown that high intensity runners can lose up to two grammes of salt per litre of sweat. At the other end of the fitness scale, hyponatraemia can also be dangerous for older people. Many follow general advice to reduce salt in their diet but then become ill in hot weather when they do not replace salt lost in sweat.
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