Just a few facts about electrolytes and heat acclimatisation
This theme continues as I have to confess I am quite obsessed with electrolytes and heat acclimatisation during exercise since having moved to Cyprus.
The amount of sodium lost in sweat is not very much, unless sweating is extreme. Exercising in high temperatures, or sustaining hard exercise for a prolonged amount of time can lead to excessive amounts of water loss through sweating. Usually, there is a mechanism that maintains the correct concentration of sodium and potassium in the body.
If excessive sweating continues through being continually exposed to high temperatures, acclimatisation occurs. This can take anything from 7 to 10 days. The amount of salts lost in your sweat finally reduces and your need for supplementation may be somewhat reduced.
Also note, if you are unwell, or have a condition that leads to water loss through loose stools, the sodium in the gastric juices and potassium in the pancreatic and intestinal juice can be lost in large amounts and this will lead to an electrolyte imbalance.
Electrolytes and the main job they do |
Heat acclimatisation facts
Athletes with a high VO2 max (maximal aerobic power), will acclimatise to higher temperatures faster.
Sleep deprivation reduces ones heat tolerances.
Acclimatisation can reduce after a few days, or weeks of inactivity.
Athletes with a high VO2 max will de-acclimatise slower than less fit counterparts
