Physiologically Speaking Hydration Facts & Myths with Dr. Tamara-Hew-Butler
Mar 11, 2024
Dr. Tamara Hew-Butler is an associate professor at Wayne State University specializing in exercise-associated hyponatremia. She delves into the dangers of improper hydration for athletes and shares eye-opening anecdotes from her experiences at marathons. Tamara discusses evolving hydration recommendations that prioritize individual needs, the balance of electrolytes for optimal performance, and the pitfalls of common hydration myths. She also highlights water scarcity's impact on sports and the importance of listening to one's body when it comes to fluid intake.
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How Hyponatremia Sparked Her Career
- Tamara Hew-Butler discovered exercise-associated hyponatremia after treating severely ill runners at the Houston Marathon and then studied under Tim Noakes in South Africa.
- She traced cases to excessive drinking during races and investigated whether overdrinking or salt loss caused low blood sodium.
Why Low Sodium Kills
- Low blood sodium (hyponatremia) causes water to move into cells and can make the brain swell, leading to fatal brainstem herniation.
- Severe hyponatremia also causes pulmonary edema, so excess water intake during exercise can be deadly.
Charity Runners And Overdrinking
- At Houston Marathon charity runners drank at many stations and some consumed around 80 cups during the race, which contributed to hyponatremia.
- Early fluid guidelines were based on fast male elites and didn't suit slower, less experienced runners.
