What is hyponatremia? A complete guide

Preface

Have you ever run a marathon, crushed a triathlon, or grinded through football training on a hot day? Staying disciplined about drinking water keeps you hydrated. However, sometimes, instead of powering forward, you may suddenly feel lightheaded, nauseous, and drained. Does it sound familiar? It doesn’t make sense because you hydrated as planned. So, the problem is simply not dehydration, but very likely hyponatremia. Too much water has diluted your sodium levels! This paradox is what makes hyponatremia so dangerous for athletes. 

What is hyponatremia?

Hyponatremia is a common type of electrolyte imbalance that occurs when your blood sodium levels drop below 135 mEq/L. Sodium is essential for controlling fluid balance, nerve signaling, and muscle contractions. When levels drop, the body struggles to function properly. 

For athletes, the risk spikes during endurance training or competition. Sweating for hours in hot conditions means losing sodium fast. Also, drinking large amounts of water without replacing electrolytes dilutes sodium even more. This is why hyponatremia is sometimes called “water intoxication.”

Marathoners, triathletes, cyclists, and even gym-goers pushing long sessions are all at risk. And unlike mild dehydration, hyponatremia can quickly escalate. If you aren’t careful, it can move from performance loss to a medical emergency.

Image source: Gemini app

What are the symptoms of hyponatremia? 

Hyponatremia often mimics dehydration, which makes it tricky to spot. Most athletes may push through, thinking they just need more water, which only worsens the problem. Mild cases may start with:

● Headaches and nausea - A persistent pressure builds in your head, often paired with queasiness. Water won’t fix it because the root cause is low sodium.

● Fatigue and confusion - You feel drained and mentally foggy. Reaction times slow down, focus slips, and workouts suddenly feel harder than they should.

● Muscle weakness or cramps - Muscles refuse to cooperate. Simple lifts or strides become difficult, and cramps strike despite proper warm-ups or regular hydration.

● Body balance issues - Movements feel clumsy and unstable. Coordination falters, and staying upright during high-intensity activity becomes unexpectedly challenging.

Severe symptoms are far more dangerous. When sodium plummets, excess water enters your brain cells, causing swelling. This can lead to seizures, or worse, coma or death. For athletes, the line between “just tired” and “life-threatening” can be frighteningly thin. That’s why you should treat low sodium as seriously as dehydration. 

What is the main cause of hyponatremia?

Hyponatremia doesn’t have a single cause. It is usually about imbalances between water intake and sodium levels, influenced by lifestyle, environment, and health. Common causes are:

● Sweat sodium loss: Heavy sweaters lose sodium faster, especially in long, hot, or high-intensity training. Without replacement, this accelerates hyponatremia risk and weakens performance.

● Too much fluid intake: Drinking excessive water in a short time overwhelms your system. It dilutes sodium in your bloodstream, leading to dangerous imbalances.

● Medication side effects: Certain drugs, including diuretics and antidepressants, disrupt sodium balance. They can cause water retention or excess sodium loss, making athletes more vulnerable.

● Underlying conditions: Health issues like kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, or heart problems affect body fluid regulation. These conditions increase the likelihood of dangerously low sodium levels.

For athletes, the most overlooked cause is not knowing your personal sweat sodium rate. Two runners can sweat the same volume but lose completely different amounts of sodium. One might be safe with water alone, while the other risks hyponatremia. That’s why tracking sodium loss is essential for performance and safety. 

How to check sodium levels in sweat during exercise?

Traditionally, sweat sodium concentration was measured in labs using ion chromatography. It involves wearing sweat collection patches, mailing them off, and waiting days for results. But is it accurate? Yes. Practical for everyday training and competitions? Not at all. 

That’s where wearable sweat biosensors change the game. The Liipoo AbsolutSweat hydration biosensor pod delivers lab-level accuracy on the field. It tracks sodium loss, fluid balance, and electrolyte depletion in real time. The results appear instantly on the AbsolutSweat app, giving athletes a live window into their hydration needs.

Key features of Liipoo AbsolutSweat sodium test

● Scientific hydration strategy - It creates a personalized hydration plan based on your sweat profile. This tells you what to drink, when, and how much for replenishment.

● Real-time reminders - It alerts you during training when sodium or hydration drops, so you act before muscle cramps or fatigue hit.

● Complete electrolyte tracking - Liipoo AbsolutSweat tracks more than sodium. It also monitors potassium, glucose, hydration, endurance, etc. This gives you a complete snapshot of your hydration and energy needs.

● Lightweight and wearable: It is designed to fit seamlessly into your training without slowing you down. You focus on performance, while the device handles the science.

How Liipoo AbsolutSweat sodium sweat test works

Liipoo AbsolutSweat biosensor uses advanced electrochemical detection to analyze sweat as you train. When your sweat touches the sensor, the bio-sensitive layer reacts, producing electrical signals. These signals are analyzed instantly and transmitted to the app, which generates a personalized hydration report. It shows your sodium loss, sweat rate, and fatigue levels. From there, it builds a tailored hydration strategy. This tells you exactly how much fluid and electrolytes you need, and when. It is like having a hydration coach on your chest.

Easy steps for using Liipoo AbsolutSweat

Step 1: Set up and pair. 

Unbox your AbsolutSweat device, activate it, and pair it with the app using a QR code or device ID. Attach the sweat patch to your chest for direct sweat contact.

Step 2: Train as usual. 

Hit your workout, whether it’s a run, a cycle, a lift, or a competition. The Liipoo AbsolutSweat biosensor continuously collects and analyzes your sweat in real time. No need to stop, adjust, or interrupt your training flow.

Step 3: Sweat analysis in action. 

As you sweat, the device detects chemical changes, translates them into data, and sends results straight to your app. You will see your sodium loss and hydration levels updating live.

Step 4: Get your report and plan
When you finish, the app generates a personalized recovery report. It tells you exactly how much water, sodium, and electrolytes you need to replace, and when to do it. It optimized recovery.

Use cases of Liipoo AbsolutSweat sodium test

The Liipoo AbsolutSweat sodium test isn’t just about data. It is about practical use. Below are different ways athletes can use it to avoid hyponatremia and optimize performance. 

During exercise: The Liipoo AbsolutSweat biosensor delivers real-time alerts when sodium levels drop mid-training. This prevents cramps, dizziness, or sudden performance dips. Instead of waiting until symptoms appear, you can adjust hydration instantly. You stay strong through every rep, stride, or mile.

After training: Post-workout, Liipoo AbsolutSweat generates a recovery report. It tells you how much sodium, water, and electrolytes to replace. This ensures you recover faster, rebuild energy stores, and avoid lingering fatigue, setting you up for stronger sessions tomorrow.

Pre-workout: Liipoo AbsolutSweat gives you a personalized hydration plan before you even start training. By knowing your sodium loss patterns, you can fuel properly and prevent early fatigue. Step into workouts with confidence that your body is balanced for performance.

Why choose Liipoo AbsolutSweat sweat sodium test

Hydration isn’t guesswork. Yet most athletes rely on generic sports drinks or salt water, which fail to account for individual sweat profiles. Thanks to Liipoo AbsolutSweat, you no longer use guesses or estimates, but facts.

It was designed for professional athletes, like marathoners, cyclists, footballers, and triathletes. Backed by research led by Prof. Xueji Zhang from the University of South Florida, it combines lab-level accuracy with real-world convenience.

The device was tested at international events, including the 2022 Winter Olympics. In fact, it is trusted by elite athletes. They include Nemanja Bozovic (footballer) and Sawan Serasinghe (7× Oceania Champion).

When performance is on the line, precision matters. That’s why top athletes, and those aspiring to reach the next level, turn to Liipoo AbsolutSweat.

FAQs

Will eating salt help with hyponatremia?

Yes, in mild cases, eating salty foods or drinking electrolyte solutions can help restore sodium levels. Salt in your diet helps with quick sodium correction by improving your kidneys’ water excretion. But relying only on guesswork is risky. Severe hyponatremia requires urgent medical care, so prevention is key. With Liipoo AbsolutSweat, you can track sodium loss before it gets critical and replenish with precision.

Which organ is most affected by hyponatremia?

The brain suffers most. Low sodium allows water into brain cells, causing swelling due to the limited space inside your skull. If your brain swells, it can lead to confusion, seizures, or even worse, coma and death if not treated correctly. For athletes, this means performance risks become life-threatening. Monitoring sweat sodium with Liipoo AbsolutSweat helps keep levels safe and your brain protected.

How long does it take to recover from hyponatremia?

Recovery time depends on severity. Mild cases may resolve within hours by restricting fluids and increasing sodium intake. Some cases, however, can take 2-3 days in a hospital or even longer if they are severe. That is why it is critical for athletes to avoid downtime altogether. The secret to this is using Liipoo AbsolutSweat for proactive monitoring.

What food is good for hyponatremia?

Foods rich in sodium concentration are good for hyponatremia because they help restore sodium levels. You should consider eating grilled or smoked meat and fish, such as canned meat, tuna in brine, chorizos, cheese, salted nuts, etc. Also, you can add a little salt to your fresh salad, pickles, broth soups, or stew. If you can’t access food right away, an electrolyte drink should be enough. However, athletes should combine dietary intake with precise sweat testing through Liipoo AbsolutSweat for tailored replenishment.

What happens if hyponatremia is not treated?

If you leave hyponatremia untreated, it will result in dangerously low sodium levels. You will have severe complications, from confusion to altered mental status, brain swelling, seizures, and coma. In the most severe cases, low sodium can even cause permanent brain damage or death. But why not just avoid it altogether? Prevention is critical. Liipoo AbsolutSweat gives athletes the data to avoid dangerous sodium drops during training and competition. Try it!

What level of hyponatremia is dangerous?

The most dangerous level of hyponatremia is when sodium levels in your bloodstream go below 125 mEq/L. If it is about 125-129 mEq/L it is moderate and mild when between 130-134 mEq/L. Athletes should not wait for medical crises. Liipoo AbsolutSweat enables ongoing monitoring of sodium loss to keep levels safe.

What is the fastest way to raise your sodium level?

It depends on how severe the low-sodium condition is. For mild cases, it is enough to consume foods and beverages rich in sodium. You can also add salt to drinks like water or adjust your fluid intake. If the case is severe, intravenous (IV) saline solutions are used in a hospital setting, but this is dangerous if done too quickly. The smartest approach is prevention with Liipoo AbsolutSweat, which ensures sodium loss is tracked and corrected in real time.

What happens when your body is low on sodium?

Low sodium in the body disrupts nerve signaling and fluid balance, which can cause a health condition called hyponatremia. Some common symptoms include loss of energy, drowsiness and fatigue, muscle weakness, restlessness and irritability, headaches, and nausea and vomiting. In extreme cases, low sodium levels can cause seizures. But you can avoid this condition. Using Liipoo AbsolutSweat helps athletes detect risks early and maintain balance.

Can you check your own sodium levels?

Without lab tools, checking your exact sodium levels at home may be impossible. Blood tests are clinical, while lab sweat tests require ion chromatography. However, you can track your sodium loss at home using the Liipoo AbsolutSweat hydration biosensor. It is the only practical at-home and on-the-go solution, giving athletes instant insights without lab visits.

Conclusion

Hyponatremia is more than just low sodium. It is a serious threat to athletes who confuse hydration with overhydration. Symptoms range from cramps and fatigue to seizures and coma, but the good news is: it is preventable.

The Liipoo AbsolutSweat hydration biosensor gives athletes lab-level accuracy on the go, tracking sodium loss, sweat rate, and hydration status in real time. Trusted by Olympians and professionals, it is the smartest way to avoid hyponatremia and optimize performance. Don’t just hydrate, hydrate right with Liipoo AbsolutSweat.