Low Sodium- Hyponatremia facts
- Hyponatremia refers to a low level of sodium in the blood.
- Hyponatremia may result from excess fluid in the body relative to a
normal amount of sodium, or it may be due to a loss of sodium and body
fluid.
- Symptoms are nonspecific and can include mental changes, headache, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, muscle spasms, and seizures.
- Severe hyponatremia can lead to coma and can be fatal.
- Treatment of hyponatremia involves intravenous fluid and electrolyte
replacement, medications to manage the symptoms of hyponatremia, as
well as any treatments for the underlying cause.
What is hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?
Hyponatremia refers to a lower-than-normal level of sodium in the
blood. Sodium is essential for many body functions including the
maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal
function of the nervous system. Hyponatremia has sometimes been referred
to as "water intoxication," especially when it is due to the
consumption of excess water, for example during strenuous
exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium.
Sodium is the major positively charged ion (cation) in the fluid
outside of cells of the body. The chemical notation for sodium is Na.
When combined with chloride (Cl), the resulting substance is table salt
(NaCl).
The normal blood sodium level is 135 - 145 milliEquivalents/liter
(mEq/L), or in international units, 135 - 145 millimoles/liter (mmol/L).
Results may vary slightly among different laboratories.
What causes hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?
A low sodium level in the blood may result from excess water or fluid
in the body, diluting the normal amount of sodium so that the
concentration appears low. This type of hyponatremia can be the result
of chronic conditions such as
kidney failure (when excess fluid cannot be efficiently excreted) and
congestive heart failure,
in which excess fluid accumulates in the body. SIADH (syndrome of
inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone) is a disease whereby the body
produces too much anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), resulting in retention of
water in the body. Consuming excess water, for example during strenuous
exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium, can also result in
hyponatremia.
Hyponatremia can also result when sodium is lost from the body or
when both sodium and fluid are lost from the body, for example, during
prolonged sweating and severe
vomiting or
diarrhea.
Medical conditions that can sometimes be associated with hyponatremia are adrenal insufficiency,
hypothyroidism, and
cirrhosis of the liver.
Finally, a number of medications can lower blood sodium levels.
Examples of these include diuretics, vasopressin, and the sulfonylurea
drugs.
What are the symptoms of hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?
When sodium levels in the body are low, water tends to enter cells,
causing them to swell. When this occurs in the brain, it is referred to
as cerebral
edema.
Cerebral edema is particularly dangerous because the brain is confined
in the skull without room for expansion, and the swelling can lead to
brain damage as the pressure increases within the skull. Cerebral edema
is only a danger in severe cases of hyponatremia.
In chronic hyponatremia, in which the blood sodium levels drop
gradually over time, symptoms are typically less severe than with acute
hyponatremia (a sudden drop in blood sodium level). Symptoms can be very
nonspecific and can include:
- headache,
- confusion or altered mental state,
- seizures, and
- decreased consciousness which can proceed to coma and death.
Other possible symptoms include:
Nausea and vomiting may accompany any of the symptoms.
How is hyponatremia (low blood sodium) diagnosed?
The symptoms of hyponatremia are nonspecific, so a blood test
measuring the sodium level is required to confirm the diagnosis of
hyponatremia. Sometimes the medical history (such as prolonged vomiting
or
excessive sweating)
will suggest the diagnosis. In other cases, further blood tests, urine
tests, and imaging studies may be needed in order to determine the exact
cause of the hyponatremia.
How is hyponatremia (low blood sodium) treated?
Mild chronic hyponatremia may not require treatment other than
adjustments in diet, lifestyle, or medications. For severe or acute
hyponatremia, treatment typically involves the intravenous
administration of fluids and
electrolytes.
In this case medications are often needed that treat the underlying
cause of the hyponatremia as well as medications to manage the
accompanying symptoms.
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE
HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM
