Exertional heat stress and sodium balance: Leaders, followers, and adaptations

Exertional heat stress presents a different acute challenge to salt balance compared to at rest. Sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl −) losses during exercise are overwhelmingly driven by eccrine sweat glands (the “leader”), with minimal urinary excretion. Total salt losses are therefore largely influenced by thermoregulatory need, although adaptations from prior heat exposure or altered dietary intake influences sweat glan d ion reabsorption, and therefore sweat Na+ ([Na+]sweat) and Cl− concentrations.
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research