Sports medicine experts have issued a report aimed at increasing awareness of exercise-associated hyponatremia -- a condition in which athletes develop dangerously low sodium levels by drinking excessive amounts of fluids during prolonged exercise.

The report -- which provides information on the causes, recognition, prevention and treatment of the potentially fatal condition -- is a position statement issued by experts who attended the First International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference held in Cape Town , South Africa , in March.

According to the experts, women, novice athletes, slow-paced runners and athletes with relatively low body weights are at especially high risk for hyponatremia.

In 2002, a 28-year-old female competitor in the Boston Marathon collapsed and died from hyponatremia after finishing the race.

The key to preventing the condition is to avoid drinking a larger volume of fluid than the body loses in sweat and urine, according to the report. Sports drinks or salt tablets do not appear to reduce the risk in people who over-drink during exercise.

Planners of marathons and other endurance events are also recommended to discourage over-consumption of fluid by placing water stations a good distance apart.