GLOSSARY

Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia (EAH) is low blood sodium developing in temporal association with exercise, often involving relative water excess rather than salt loss alone.

For example, interpret a post-race sodium result with sampling time, drinking and recent illness; one value alone is not a supplement prescription.

Hyponatremia and hypernatremia describe blood concentrations, not simply too little or too much dietary sodium. During exercise, drinking beyond water excretion, with persistent antidiuretic activity, is an important cause of low sodium. Salt does not cancel the danger of any fluid volume. Neurological symptoms after activity require urgent assessment rather than an automatic recommendation to drink more.

Serum or plasma sodium reflects exchangeable body sodium and potassium relative to water rather than a tally of eaten salt. Relatively more water can lower concentration, while water loss can raise it. Blood values therefore cannot be equated with sweat salt or food amounts. Assess volume, symptoms and underlying causes instead of interpreting the concentration as a direct dietary intake measurement.

During prolonged or hot exercise, sodium can aid fluid retention and replace losses, but does not make excessive drinking safe. A short session with normal meals does not always require supplements. Coordinate water, fuel, sodium and digestive tolerance. The goal is not blindly replacing every estimated sweat number or finishing heavier because more fluid has been forced into the plan.