Marathon runner's death linked to excessive fluid intake

The Boston Globe ^ | 8/13/2002 | Stephen Smith

[Fractal Trader]

Sad story.

However, one more story indicating the potential fatal dangers of excessive fluid intake.

[Wolfie]

Sounds like a job for the Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division

[Tijeras_Slim]

completed her doctoral dissertation on how marathons help runners grieve

And she had such a bright future in today's high tech economy...

[Drango]

ping

[Xenalyte]

''We want as Cynthia's legacy a better understanding of this problem so that we can work out strategies to make it less likely that these cases will happen in the future,'' said Siegel, director of internal medicine at McLean.

Is it just me, or does this statement seem both insipid and presumptuous? (And while I'm on the subject, Siegel had best be related to the family if he's stating such vacuous drivel on their behalf.)

[Tijeras_Slim]

Perhaps naming a juice bar after her would give closure. < /sarcasm>

[Wolfie]

In general, I'd like to see a moratorium placed on the practice of the grieving process taking the form of national policy lobbying.

[mhking]

Sounds like a job for the Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division

Yes, that's such an insidious chemical! Something must be done! [LOL]

[Oschisms]

Cynthia Lucero, who in the week before the April marathon completed her doctoral dissertation

This was the real cause of death, IMHO. Undertraining due to trying to complete 2 projects that require full attention.

[Auntie Mame]

Not to make light of the tragedy of this young woman's demise, it would behoove us as a nation, to ban these types of sporting events. The danger is just too high, the events are not necessary and, "As a nation, we should raise the national dialogue on these senseless and unnecessary deaths--if it would save just one life..."

Signed, any liberal

[Corin Stormhands]

Runners have long known the importance of replenishing fluids, but they may not know that it is also vital to maintain a balance in sodium levels to keep cells healthy. If runners drink too much fluid, they can dangerously dilute their blood sodium levels.

The key, as it is in just about everything is moderation. Yeah, the fluids including the 8-10 glasses (or more) of water are important. But we've got the mindset that all salt is a bad thing. It's not. It's necessary. We've also got the mindset that all fat is a bad thing. It's not.

[Orual]

Cynthia Lucero, who in the week before the April marathon completed her doctoral dissertation on how marathons help runners grieve.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Irony.

[general_re]

...how marathons help runners grieve.

By giving you a way to join your dearly departed loved ones, apparently...

[aristeides]

Isn't the story that the original runner from Marathon arrived in Athens with news of the battle (or was it of the arrival of the Persians?) and then dropped dead?

[GretchenEE]

completed her doctoral dissertation on how marathons help runners grieve

This has to go to the top of my current list of ironies.

[Skwidd]

Incidentally, a lot of ravers die in this manner. Ecstacy makes you excessively thirsty.

But don't tell users that, because it's 'harmless fun.'

[GretchenEE]

bump for your post @ 11.

My mom used to quote this constantly to us whelps: "Moderation in all things." As with many other of the things she said, I didn't really grasp the depth of the wisdom till adulthood.

[jae471]

It was news of the victory the Hellenes had over the Medes. Legend says the message was "Rejoice! We Conquer!". There is no real documentation of the run, so while a foot courier may have been dispatched to carry news to Athens, we really don't know what the real message, if any, was. Further, given the skill of the Greeks at long distance running, it is unlikely he would have died.

A true stroy about the Battle of Marathon involves Philippides, who ran from Marathon to Sparta to enlist Spartan soilders to fight along the Athenians. However, the Athenians attacked and won before the Spartans arrived. The distance from Marathon to Sparta is about 150 miles, and Philippides coverd this distance in less than two days, on foot.

[aculeus]

... drank large amounts of Gatorade ...

Pepsico (owner of Gatorade) lawyers are now composing new warning labels.

Meanwhile from Gatorade's web site:

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING CAN BE BAD, EVEN TOO MUCH WATER." -Randy Eichner, M.D.

While most runners and cyclists know the importance of hydrating, some don't realize overhydrating can dangerously lower blood sodium levels-a condition known as hyponatremia.

Hyponatremia seems most common in female and beginning marathoners and triathletes for two reasons, says Randy Eichner, M.D., professor of medicine and team physician at the University of Oklahoma and volunteer physician at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. One, they are on the race course for many hours, losing lots of sodium in sweat. Two, they are hypervigilant about staying hydrated. "They drink lots of water in the days before the race, then stop at every fluid station along the course," he says.

"Drinking is important, but the problem is they drink too much water."