Drinking water during exercise is deemed important because dehydration can cause many health issues. However, a new study headed by an international panel has released new guidelines urging athletes to think about the widely-known hydration advice during exercise. They recommend drinking only when thirsty during exercise.
The study was published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. The panel says that drinking too much water or sports drinks during workouts can lead to a serious disease called hyponatremia.
Hyponatremia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of sodium in the blood, reports Mayo Clinic. It could be caused by severe sweating and drinking too much water during sports events that could lead to loss of an electrolyte called sodium. When it goes out of hand, it could lead to vomiting, headache, confusion, agitation, delirium, seizure and even coma.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the authors reiterate that most studies do not report the exact number of deaths associated with the condition. However, there were around 14 athletes who died of the condition. They are mostly marathon runners and foot ball players.
"These are deaths in young healthy people in the 'prime' of their life, and most importantly, they are 100% preventable," the authors wrote in the study.
They added, "The common denominator was excessive fluid consumption; a peril that has been well described in athletes and had been the subject of previous consensus documents on exercise-associated hyponatremia."
Meanwhile, Washington Post reports that when there is excessive fluid build-up in the body, the concentration of sodium could remarkably decrease that the kidneys would become overloaded. Hence, they are unable to excrete the water in the body. The cells would absorb the water that may lead to excessive swelling of body parts including the brain. This could eventually lead to death if left untreated.