Question

Another patient comes into the ER, she has a headache, is vomiting, and is feeling weak. She mentions that she has been training for the 31st Jalapeño 100k bike race and spent the morning on a 60-mile training ride. It was a hot morning, and she was sweating profusely during her ride and she can see the salt on her shirt and feel it on her skin. Also, she forgot her Gatorade, so she drank much more plain water than usual. The nurse takes a blood sample and analyzes the blood for electrolyte concentrations. The biker’s sodium concentration was found to be 128 mM. Which condition is the patient likely experiencing?

Answer 1

The patient with symptoms post intense exercise and a sodium concentration of 128 mM is likely experiencing hyponatremia, a dilution of sodium in the blood due to excess water intake and electrolyte loss from sweating.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient exhibiting symptoms of headache, vomiting, and weakness after an extensive bike ride on a hot day, and found to have a sodium concentration of 128 mM, is likely suffering from hyponatremia. This condition occurs when there is a lower-than-normal concentration of sodium in the blood, typically due to excess water accumulation that dilutes the body's sodium levels. This can happen through a combination of excessive sweating, which causes loss of sodium, and overhydration with plain water, which lacks adequate electrolytes to replenish the body's needs.