Hyponatremia : dangerously low blood sodium
IntensityDangerously low blood sodium caused by drinking too much plain water during racing.
Hyponatremia occurs when you drink too much plain water without enough sodium intake, diluting the salt in your blood. Symptoms: nausea, headache, confusion : in severe cases, seizures. It is the opposite of dehydration: the fix is NOT to drink more but to add sodium (salted gels, electrolyte tablets, broth). In Ironman, risk rises in hot weather with many water stations.
In TriPaced:
In TriPaced, race nutrition plans include regular sodium intake (400-800 mg/h depending on heat). Do not confuse thirst with hyponatremia risk: drinking to thirst remains safer than consuming at every aid station.