Drinking yourself to death

This is somewhat old news, but for many word still hasn't gotten out:

After years of telling athletes to drink as much liquid as possible to avoid dehydration, some doctors are now saying that drinking too much during intense exercise poses a far greater health risk.

An increasing number of athletes - marathon runners, triathletes and even hikers in the Grand Canyon - are severely diluting their blood by drinking too much water or too many sports drinks, with some falling gravely ill and even dying, the doctors say.

From today's NY Times, which also notes:

Doctors and sports drink companies "made dehydration a medical illness that was to be feared," said Dr. Tim Noakes, a hyponatremia expert at the University of Cape Town.

"Everyone becomes dehydrated when they race," Dr. Noakes said. "But I have not found one death in an athlete from dehydration in a competitive race in the whole history of running. Not one. Not even a case of illness."

Several years ago my wife gently rebuked a student for sucking away at a water bottle in class; the student cited her need to rehydrate after the hour-long dance class she took immediately before. I thought this "need" was pretty absurd at the time . . . .

Posted by David on April 14, 2005 11:42 AM