Wednesday, December 25, 2002

Runners can get too much of a good thing

Dehydration is the usual concern for most marathoners. But, did you know that over-hydration can also make you sick?

"It's a condition called hyponatremia," said Dr. John Cianca, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "We are seeing it more frequently and even a few deaths have occurred."

Over-ingestion of fluids and longer finishing times put marathoners at risk. Women represent the majority of casesincluding the deaths. Symptoms, such as vomiting and headache, don't always show up until hours after the race. In severe cases, runners experience seizures and go into a coma.

Cianca says runners should measure their hydration needs during training by doing the following:

* Start by weighing without clothing before you run.

* Run for one hour without drinking fluids.

* Stop and towel off sweat. Then weigh again.

Cianca recommends drinking 16 ounces of fluids for every pound lost during that hour.

Don't let the flu knock you out of the game

Team sports can provide a good playing field where flu germs score points, says Dr. Joseph Chorley, assistant professor of pediatrics, adolescent and sports medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection," he said. "It spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. Athletes who train intensively can have a reduced immune system making them susceptible to the flu bug."

"If one member of a team comes down with the flu, it can take out other team members, too. So it's a good idea for the entire team to get a flu shot," he said.

Supplement has unknown effects on young athletes

Adolescent athletes who take creatine to "bulk up" should do so with caution, says Dr. Joseph Chorley, assistant professor of pediatrics, adolescent and sports medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Creatine monohydrate, a supplement marketed to enhance athletic performance and muscle size, could cause health problems for some athletes.

"Creatine, found naturally in the body, is generally considered safe for adult athletes," said Chorley. "But, we don't know its health risks for young athletes. Parents should be concerned if their adolescent is using creatine."