#Heat

A new Slate feature warns that overdrinking can cause life-threatening low sodium levels.
The piece links heavy hydration habits to exercise-associated hyponatremia and urgent medical risks (Slate).

This report explains the new findings and the risks for people in Thailand.
It shows what athletes, outdoor workers, families, and public-health planners should do now.

Hyponatremia means low sodium in the blood.
Doctors define normal sodium as 135 to 145 mmol per liter (Slate).

A growing medical understanding shows that drinking too much water during exercise can cause life-threatening hyponatremia. This issue matters for Thailand’s athletes, outdoor workers, and festival participants in the country’s hot, tropical climate.

In Thailand’s heat, hydration matters but must be balanced. Hyponatremia occurs when blood sodium falls below 135 mmol/L. Excess water dilutes sodium, causing cells to swell and triggering dizziness, confusion, headaches, or, in severe cases, seizures or coma. The condition can mimic dehydration, making timely diagnosis challenging outside medical settings.

Heat waves are reshaping school sports across Thailand. In response, educators are adjusting practice times, hydration protocols, and emergency readiness to protect young athletes. New insights from 2024–2025 highlight rising heat-related incidents among student athletes, underscoring the urgency of proactive measures in Thai schools.

Thailand’s hot season routinely pushes daytime temperatures beyond 35°C, challenging outdoor activities. Families and teachers are noticing the impact on training schedules and student well-being. Data from global health sources indicate thousands of young athletes require medical care for heat-related issues each year, a trend mirrored in Asia as temperatures climb. Thai authorities report more heat-related school sports incidents, prompting renewed safety standards in many districts.

A study from St. Andrews University in Scotland challenges the idea that water is always the best hydrator. It suggests that drinks with nutrients—like milk, which contains sugar, fat, and protein—can help retain hydration longer. For Thai readers facing high temperatures and a wide range of drinks—from iced coffee to herbal brews—this finding offers practical insight: milk may support longer-lasting hydration, but the full story is more complex.

Data from this research shows water is absorbed quickly, but beverages with small amounts of sugar, fat, or protein slow stomach emptying and help water stay in the body longer. Milk stood out because its combination of lactose, fat, protein, and sodium helps conserve fluids. Sodium helps the kidneys retain water, reducing urine output and aiding steadier hydration. This aligns with why oral rehydration solutions, which balance sugar and salts, are recommended for dehydration from illness, a concern for Thai communities during hot seasons.

A landmark study from Scotland’s St. Andrews University has shaken up conventional wisdom on hydration, revealing that water—while efficient—is not the most effective drink to keep our bodies hydrated over time. The findings, which have quickly made headlines across global media, underscore the subtle but important role that drink composition plays in fluid balance. For Thais who routinely endure the country’s sweltering heat and grapple with hydration choices ranging from iced coffees to herbal teas, the takeaway is both intriguing and practical: milk may outperform water when it comes to long-lasting hydration, though the story is more nuanced than it first appears (CNN via 10News).