Additional steps to consider:
• Encourage athletes to be well-acclimatized to the heat because this is an effective way to
decrease sweat sodium losses.
• Maintain normal meal patterns and don’t restrict dietary sodium intake, so sodium levels are
normal prior to the start of an event.
• Consume a little extra sodium with meals and snacks during continuous days of exercise in hot
weather to help maintain blood sodium levels.
There is a great performance benefit associated with proper hydration during exercise, but
overdrinking must be avoided. Athletes who lose and replace fluids at equal rates greatly
diminish the risk of EH—especially if they drink fluids that contain adequate sodium.