Excessive sweating can lead to which condition?

Prepare for the New Zealand State Nursing Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get prepared to excel in your test!

Excessive sweating can indeed lead to hyponatremia. This condition occurs when there is a dilution of sodium in the bloodstream, which can happen when a person loses a significant amount of salt through sweat but does not sufficiently replace it. During intense or prolonged sweating, particularly in hot weather or while engaging in strenuous exercise, the body loses both water and electrolytes, notably sodium.

If a person replaces lost fluids mainly with water without adequate sodium intake, the balance of sodium in the body gets disrupted, resulting in lower-than-normal sodium levels in the blood, known as hyponatremia. Symptoms of this condition can include nausea, headache, confusion, and, in severe cases, seizures or coma, highlighting the importance of replenishing both fluids and electrolytes to maintain proper physiological balance.

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