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SpecialfoTHE GAMECOCK A flowchart showing the effects of overhydration, when water and sodium slip out of balance in the human body. Some side effects of overhydration include nausea, vomiting, headaches and cramps. Overhydration can be harmful Lisa Liddane KRT CAMPUS Hyponatremia: a rare condition that’s been getting a louder buzz this year. It occurs when endurance athletes drink too much fluid, causing the sodium levels in the blood to drop to potentially dangerous levels. Athletes experience symptoms similar to dehydration: They become confused and disoriented. They might feel nauseated, vomit and experience headache, muscle cramps or muscle weakness. Complications of severe hyponatremia include swelling in the brain and lungs, which can result in seizure, coma or heart attack. Deaths have occurred when sodium levels dropped drastically. The talk about hyponatremia has become loud enough that the American College of Sports Medicine addressed it in a recent report to separate hype from fact. An international panel of hydration experts examined the best available evidence on hydration and physical activity and released guidelines. Here’s what endurance athletes should know, based on the groups guidelines: How does it occur? Hyponatremia occurs when athletes drink too much fluid, or experience a combination of too much fluid intake and high sodium loss through sweating. How common is it? Hyponatremia is relatively rare, despite heightened media attention. In marathons and triathlons, the incidence is low — less than one in 1,000 finishers. But it’s been found to be higher in isolated ultra-distance races — 40 to 50 in 1,000 finishers. Dehydration occurs far more frequently in these athletes, especially during hot-weather training. Dehydration increases the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Who’s at greater risk? Slow paced athletes, such as those who run longer than four hours or participate in triathlons longer than nine to 13 hours, are at higher risk. They appear to make more stops at water stations and drink more than faster-paced participants. Women seem to be at higher risk because they drink more fluids than they lose while sweating and their smaller body mass might be more easily affected by excess fluids. How can you prevent it? Appropriate fluid intake (before, during and after exercise) helps regulate your body temperature and replace fluids lost in sweat. Your fluid and electrolyte needs are unique. Know how much fluid you lose through sweat. Weigh yourself (preferably sans clothes and shoes) before and immediately after an hour of strenuous activity. Find the difference between the two measurements. Multiply it by 16 to convert pounds to ounces. This number is how many ounces of fluid you need every hour to replenish your fluids. If you’re feeling symptoms of hyponatremia, don’t ignore them and assume they’ll go away. Stop and ask for help if you’re training or competing in a race. What should you drink or eat during an endurance event? If you’re participating in physical activity lasting more than three to four hours, eat salted snacks and drink sports beverages that contain electrolytes. Remember that water alone won’t do for endurance events because it won’t offset the salt lost through sweat. Some endurance athletes add buffered salt tablets to their drinks. TH HfeAMECOCK If you are interested P in reporting, writing, editing, L public relations, advertising, photography, layout and design etc... ATTEND AN INTEREST MEETING: Monday, August 22 7:30 p.m. RHUU 322/326 or Wednesday, August 24 7:30 p.m. “The creators of the fad diets are looking to make money. They prey on the people who are looking to miraculously loose a lot of weight.” JAKE BERGER SECOND-YEAR 1 BUSINESS STUDENT - •• f* l “ • , “Fads are stupid and T dangerous. Its restricting I calories so you’ll lose ; weight, but you won’t get the nutrients your body needs.” MEGAN DZIURA . FIRST-YEAR UNDECIDED STUDENT - * Stars’ diets find detractors Lauren Jones THE GAMECOCK With so much emphasis on appearance in todays world, many people feel the pressure to be thin. College students are often influenced by these pressures and suffer feelings of inadequacy. With images of super-thin celebrities plastered in magazines, movies and on TV, many feel they need to live up to that standard of beauty. Curtis Springle, a fourth-year sports and entertainment management student, said he thinks miracle diets are not- only harmful for your body, but also your wallet. “I don’t think its healthy or economical for college students to try and diet like celebrities.” Celebrities are known for extreme “fad dieting,” including the celebrity shake, the grapefruit diet, the Hollywood diet and the 'cottage cheese diet. These diets can quicken weight loss but can also be harmful to the body. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, on any given day 25 percent of men and 45 percent of women are on a diet. Fad diets might seem cool, but some students are finding out not a lot of people think they’re a good idea. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu A QTJ FOR YOUR NOTES m a Visit LeConte 117 for more info, or call 777-6142 Office of Student Disability Services - a university sponsored service - THE BIGGEST BACK TO SCHOOL Where: RUSSELL HOUSE . UNIVERSITY UNION 2nd Floor Lobby When: Mon. Aug. 22 thru Fri. Aug. 26 Time: 9 A.M.-5 P.M. Sponsor: RUSSELL HOUSE UNIVERSITY UNION Only $6, $7 and $8