Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Healthwatch we're talking about avoiding some of the health hazards of summer. Previously, we discussed the dangers of hot-weather exercise and the need for plenty of fluids. But researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center say there's also danger in drinking too much water.
People who drink too much water during long-distance athletic events may develop a condition called hyponatremia, which is a loss in sodium content that can cause lethargy, disorientation, seizures and possibly even respiratory distress.
Dr. Benjamin Levine, a UT Southwestern cardiologist, says competitive athletes are less likely to suffer from this problem. They're too busy running to stop and drink water at each rest stop. It's the less-competitive runners who stop for water more often who risk dangerously low sodium levels.
Weighing yourself before and after exercise can give you a sense of how much fluid you tend to lose.
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June 2005
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