Too Much H2O is not good for athletes

A study confirms that drinking too much can be dangerous, even deadly, for endurance athletes. Drinking too much water dilutes the blood's normal salt content, producing a condition known as hyponatremia. The result: excess fluid is sucked from the bloodstream into cells--including brain cells--making them swell. Pressure grows inside the skull, and that can lead to permanent damage, even death. The drinks often carry more water with smaller concentrations of salts than are normally found in the human body; therefore, they do not replace salts adequately. Calculating fluid loss is as simple as weighing yourself before and after exercise and comparing that number to the amount of fluid you consumed throughout. It's also good to accept some mild dehydration during a long race. Taking along salty snacks to eat during the race is a good way of combating hyponatremia. Low sodium can result in headache, confusion, seizures, and death. Symptoms can include nausea, grogginess and confusion. Generally, athletes of all types are instructed prior to activities that water consumption is necessary to prevent illness from heat and to maintain performance levels.