In this article we’ll discuss how sweat sodium concentration varies and what factors can influence this important parameter that informs individuals on electrolyte replacement needs.
MX3 CMO Prof. Trevor Kilpatrick presented at the Minesafe International 2020 Conference. Trevor's talk detailed the importance of heat stress and hydration management on the worksite and compared the scientific evidence behind the different technologies available for workplace hydration assessment, including the MX3 Hydration Testing System. Minesafe is the premiere Australian mining safety conference and is attended by a diverse audience of mining regulators, health and safety practitioners and other resource industry professionals.
Last week MX3 attended the London Tech Week 2020, Europe's largest technology festival, as part of the Global Victoria trade mission.
Maintaining hydration is of vital importance for performance and safety when working or exercising in the heat, and insufficient fluid management can have major health effects such as heat stroke or chronic kidney disease. Staying well hydrated is also important to the general population for maintaining normal bodily functions and productivity. DeAnn Liska et al. in Nutrients review the scientific literature to determine the general health benefits of maintaining good hydration.
In the largest study of its kind to date, a meta-analysis from Flouris et al. in The Lancet Planetary Health determined the effects of occupational heat strain on worker health and productivity. Analysing the results of over 100 studies from 30 countries measuring more than 447 million workers, the authors investigated a wide range of industries including agriculture, mining and construction.
A common question we get asked at MX3 is how Salivary Osmolarity (SOSM) measurements made with the MX3 Hydration Testing System compare to Urine Specific Gravity (USG) in relation to dehydration. USG spot-checks are routinely used by many work sites and sports teams, but recent research reveals that this method can greatly over-estimate or underestimate the number of dehydrated individuals. This post will summarize some of the studies investigating USG and SOSM so you can better understand how these hydration biomarkers match up.
We all know the risk of dehydration during summer and in hot climates. What you may not be aware of is that dehydration is also common in cold environments. Just like heat-induced dehydration, cold-induced dehydration can impact physical performance, cognitive performance and thermoregulation, leading to serious health consequences. This post explains why cold weather increases the risk of dehydration, and how it can be avoided.
MX3 is excited to announce the launch of our new Mobile App and Portal!