Sweating it out during morning workouts requires people to stay hydrated to prevent exhaustion. And athletes in the Middle East need to drink enough water for a long-distance run under the sun. But is there a way to know the precise amount of water needed to avoid dehydration?

UAE-based medical student Mezna Yunus Almansouri has invented a solar-powered device that measures sodium levels from sweat. The young inventor has created the tech to inform athletes how much liquid they need to maintain body water levels. Mezna’s invention has bagged the gold medal at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Innovation Competition.

The ideal body water percentage for women is around 60%, while the same for men is 65%. But for athletes, it has been recommended that a water level of 5% more than the average should be maintained. Sodium plays a crucial role in delivering water to the cells and retaining liquid in the body.

Athletes who can make up for sodium lost through sweat, are known to finish a race faster. Loss of too much salt due to perspiration also hampers the flow of blood to the skin and working muscles. Higher sodium levels signal a good amount of water in the body and a lower risk of dehydration. Sensors for analyzing sweat for sodium are game-changers for middle and long-distance runners.

This sodium tracker is just one of five devices invented by Mezna, who is working on another gadget to predict epileptic seizures. The UAE University student has also won accolades for a drug detector, that she built in collaboration with a peer.

Student innovators play a significant role in developing futuristic concepts across the Middle East. Last month, school kids in Dubai created a sensor that reminds people about maintaining social distance. Similarly, students at the American University of Sharjah developed pollution mapping tech to alert people about air quality.