[pct-l] BioOne Online Journals - Effects of an Electrolyte Additive on Hydration and Drinking Behavior During Wildfire Suppression

[Diane Soini]

The word is hyponatremia.

SCaps are pretty good. They're a capsule, not a drink.

I always just used crystal light lemonade hydration. Sometimes I just  
used diet lemonade mix and added a pinch of salt. I did not suffer  
with getting enough hydration, though. I tend toward hyponatremia.  
That is when you have drunk too much water.

What happens is I get thirsty, I drink water but it doesn't satisfy,  
so I drink more and end up drinking too much and I start to feel  
worse instead of better. I've learned to recognize when this happens,  
so no matter how thirsty I get, I force myself to not drink anymore  
water. Instead, try to get to a place where I can have something  
really salty, like potato chips or soup or even just pour a handful  
of salt on my hand and lick it.

A good read for hyponatremia is Waterlogged by Tim Noakes. There's a  
review out there on a runner's blog that saves you having to actually  
read the book. Look it up if you are interested.

Diane

On Feb 16, 2014, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Message: 29
> Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:59:15 -0500 (EST)
> From: aslive at charter.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] BioOne Online Journals - Effects of an
> 	Electrolyte Additive on Hydration and Drinking Behavior During
> 	Wildfire Suppression
> To: walt Durling <durlfam4 at icloud.com>
> Cc: Pct-L at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <3adcf40e.774e0.1443ba332ce.Webtop.43 at charter.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no
>
> There is a problem with this study for backpackers, it was not long
> enough.  The study was done over a 15 hour period for men who had
> big-time support with them, regular meals, etc.  When you are out  
> there
> hiking for days at a time and only drinking water, as a backpacker,  
> you
> can end up flushing out your system.  There is a name for this,  
> although
> I forget it at the moment.  It is very important on days-long treks to
> replace your electrolytes.
>
> Shepherd