Stomach shut down.? I'm a 33-year-old female weighing about 118 pounds. I've been running for almost 20 years. When participating in endurance events, I have trouble with my stomach shutting down. At about the three-hour mark during a marathon, I am no longer able to intake a gel or other food without feeling nauseated nau·se·at·ed adj. Affected with nausea. . My recent Ironman competition went well for the first two legs, but by mile six of the run my stomach began cramping and that continued for the next hour and a half. I vomited during miles 19 through 24. What can I do to alleviate this problem? Cheryl Smith, Mill Valley, CA The fact that these symptoms occur well into these extended events suggests that dehydration or electrolyte imbalance electrolyte imbalance Critical care A general term for a derangement of major electrolytes–Na+, K+, chloride; thus defined, EI is common; in practice, EIs are only of interest if they cause clinical disease is affecting peristalsis peristalsis: see digestive system. peristalsis Progressive wavelike muscle contractions in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, and sometimes in the ureters and other hollow tubes. . When peristalsis, the muscle contractions that propel food along the digestive tract, is interrupted, nausea and vomiting Nausea and Vomiting Definition Nausea is the sensation of being about to vomit. Vomiting, or emesis, is the expelling of undigested food through the mouth. can result. There is a normal reduction of blood flow to the digestive tract during exercise, but this occurs early and remains so throughout the exercise, so it would not be the cause of a problem this late in the event. You should prehydrate with sports drink containing sodium, and continue to hydrate hydrate (hī`drāt), chemical compound that contains water. A common hydrate is the familiar blue vitriol, a crystalline form of cupric sulfate. Chemically, it is cupric sulfate pentahydrate, CuSO4·5H2O. throughout the exercise period. Peristalsis is very sensitive to salt and water imbalance in the intestinal tract. Many runners restrict their nutrient intake late in the race to fluid-only. Be sure to experiment on long training runs with various foods--your intestinal tract needs to be trained for an endurance event in the same way your other muscles and organs do. Dennis D. Daly, MD, Camillus, NY Studies do indicate stomach disturbance with dehydration, therefore it is important to remain hydrated hy·drat·ed adj. Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a hydrate. Adj. 1. hydrated - containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate) hydrous while cycling so one is not dehydrated de·hy·drate v. de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing, de·hy·drates v.tr. 1. To remove water from; make anhydrous. 2. To preserve by removing water from (vegetables, for example). during the run portion of the race. Runners seem to experience GI upset more so than cyclists. Mel Williams, PhD, Norfolk, VA Please note that Clinic responses frequently appear as excerpts of longer answers, especially when the inclusion of two full answers would result in redundant information. for members only * PERSONALIZED SPORTS MEDICINE, TRAINING AND DIET ADVICE * 255 CLINIC ADVISORS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 27 SPECIALTIES |
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