Re: [at-l] Dehydration Questions for 'The Doc-In-The-House'

["W F Thorneloe, MD" <thornel@attglobal.net>]

Excuse me, but I must be missing something here. You seem pretty angry over 
something with this, as if I somehow endorse death marches as Army training 
or sport.

Carbohydrate solutions do not necessarily contain salts - for instance D5W. 
Gatorade and similar powders and solutions are electrolyte and carbohydrate 
mixtures. They have a role, but diluted and moderate use is advised. 
Electrolytes are lost in several ways, including urine, defecation, sweat 
and emesis. As heat acclimation occurs, the rate of electrolyte loss alters 
from these sources.

Somehow I don't quite understand the idea that I recommend suffering from 
dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, heat stroke, or any other hazard. Water 
remains the most important factor in dehydration, and not the only factor. 
Even the military will discipline officers and instructors who fail to 
attend to these hazards - as a recent marine
officer learned in court marshal.

I don't think I am questioning your manhood, athleticism, or knowledge. 
I've only suggested that moderation with commercial "sports" 
electrolyte/carbohydrate solutions is wise. What has "honked" you so about 
this?

OrangeBug
Atlanta, GA

At 07:40 PM 5/3/2000, ThatSloetoe wrote:
><sorry, getting honked here. How many couch potatoes is this thread bringing
>to tears? Salty tears. Ahhhh, the irony of that.....>
>
>Leave it at "simple water"? Let's not. The US Army lost 5 soldiers in
>training last year due to hyponatremia -- the condition of having "too much"
>water without balancing Na/K intake. They lost 3 to dehydration. They're back
>to issuing those salt tablets you were denigrating earlier. Hmmmm. (These
>data comes to me from a collegue who's exArmy, current reserve, trainer, from
>a conversation exactly a week ago. We talk about these things. Honest. This
>is Indiana: it's that or basketball.....)
>
>There's no reason to *suffer* from salt loss, but this is what you are
>directly encouraging. ...

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