Hyponatremia is when the concentration of sodium in your blood is lower than what is needed for your body to function normally. Low sodium levels can affect blood pressure, muscle contractions, and the delivery of nerve signals. Show
Mild cases may not cause notable
symptoms, but severely low levels of sodium can cause serious and even life-threatening symptoms. This is because your body will become overwhelmed with fluid, causing cells to swell and organs to malfunction. One or more factors can cause hyponatremia, including medications and medical conditions that disrupt the balance of water and sodium in the body. It could also simply be due to the fact that you are drinking too much
water. This article takes a closer look at the various symptoms and causes of hyponatremia. It also explains how the condition is diagnosed and treated. Symptoms of Hyponatremia (Low Sodium) While people with mild hyponatremia are often asymptomatic (without symptoms), the likelihood of symptoms increases the more that sodium levels drop. Common signs and symptoms of low sodium include:
Complications of Low Sodium LevelsThe complications of hyponatremia vary somewhat depending on whether it is acute (occurring suddenly and severely, usually as a result of a serious medical event) or chronic (meaning persistent or recurrent, usually as a result of a long-standing medical condition). With acute hyponatremia, the rapid decline in blood sodium can lead to serious and sometimes irreversible health complications. Due to the rapid increase of fluids in the brain and other organs, a person with acute hyponatremia may experience:
Chronic hyponatremia tends to be less severe but is insidious because it can silently damage organs over time even at milder levels. Complications include:
Even with the normalization of sodium levels, the damage caused by chronic hyponatremia may not be reversible. What Causes Hyponatremia?Sodium is an essential mineral that your body cannot make. The only way to get it is through the foods you eat. If you do not get enough or lose more than you take in, hyponatremia can occur. It is uncommon to have low sodium levels in the United States. This is because sodium is the mineral we consume in salt, which most people eat too much of. Hyponatremia may also be caused by lifestyle factors or medical conditions that affect the balance of water and/or sodium in the body. Lifestyle FactorsDietary and lifestyle issues rarely affect sodium levels. Even so, the rapid loss of fluid and/or the excessive intake of fluid can cause sodium concentrations to plummet. Excessive sweating can cause the rapid loss of sodium. Sweat and other body fluids are high in sodium. If you are unable to properly replenish sodium supplies after heavy sweating, sodium levels can drop precipitously. If you drink excessive amounts of water after sweating without replacing electrolytes (essential minerals like sodium, calcium, and potassium), sodium levels can drop even further. This is because you are diluting the amount of sodium per volume of water in the body. It is also possible to get hyponatremia through extreme sodium-free diets. Drinking too much water (overhydration) further increases the risk. Medical CausesThere are medical conditions that can cause hyponatremia. Some develop slowly over time with symptoms developing gradually. Others develop rapidly with symptoms developing abruptly. Medical causes of hyponatremia include:
DiagnosisHyponatremia is diagnosed with a physical exam, lab tests, and a review of your medical history. Central to the diagnosis is a blood test that measures the concentration of sodium in your blood. The levels are measured in milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) and classified as follow:
The physical exam and medical history provide clues as to the underlying cause. Tests will check for abnormalities in your blood pressure, urine volume, and urine concentration. Other blood tests may look for abnormalities in your adrenal hormone levels or liver function. Your healthcare provider will also check for neurological (nervous system-related) problems such as a loss of
alertness, concentration, or orientation. Hyponatremia TreatmentThe treatment of hyponatremia can be simple at times and challenging at others. The treatment is often based on the slow and careful replacement of sodium in the body, as well as the management of the underlying cause of hyponatremia. Dietary IntakeIf a low-salt diet is the cause of your hyponatremia, your healthcare provider will recommend slowly increasing your salt intake. The recommended sodium intake is around one teaspoon of salt per day for adults and 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day for children. Keep in mind that the salt in processed foods, bread, pasta, sauces, and even desserts counts toward the daily recommended intake. You will also be advised to drink enough water—around 12 cups per day for females and 16 cups per day for males—but not to overhydrate. Intravenous Sodium ReplacementIf you have severe hyponatremia, you may need sodium to be replaced with intravenous (IV) fluids. This is when fluids containing water, sodium, and other key electrolytes are delivered gradually by "drips" into a vein using a needle. The medical team will restore the sodium level over the course of several hours or days, depending on the severity of your condition. Risks of IV Sodium ReplacementThe intravenous replacement of sodium needs to be done gradually. If delivered too quickly, sodium can damage the protective coating around nerves cells in the brain, referred to as osmotic demyelination. This can lead to long-lasting and even permanent brain injury. MedicationsThere are few medications that are consistently effective in treating hyponatremia. Drugs called vasopressin receptor antagonists are sometimes used in people who have fluid retention and avoided in those with low fluid volumes. These drugs work best in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and SIADH. Declomycin (demeclocycline) is an antibiotic sometimes used to treat SIADH. The results can vary, with some people experiencing an overcorrection of sodium levels. The drug can also cause kidney problems and photosensitivity (sensitivity to the sun) in some. SummaryHyponatremia is abnormally low levels of sodium in the blood. It can be diagnosed with a blood test. A person with hyponatremia will have no symptoms if sodium levels are mildly decreased. When sodium levels drop significantly, hyponatremia can cause headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and difficulty concentrating. Severe cases can lead to seizures, coma, kidney failure, and death. Hyponatremia can have several causes, including severe diarrhea, no-salt diets, overhydration, use of diuretics, congestive heart failure, certain hormonal problems, and cirrhosis. The treatment may involve increased salt intake for mild cases and intravenous sodium replacement for severe ones. Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if your body is lacking salt?Hyponatremia is a condition that occurs when the sodium in your blood falls below the normal range of 135–145 mEq/L. In severe cases, low sodium levels in the body can lead to muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Eventually, lack of salt can lead to shock, coma and death.
How do you fix a low sodium?Options include:. Intravenous fluids. Your doctor may recommend IV sodium solution to slowly raise the sodium levels in your blood. ... . Medications. You may take medications to manage the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia, such as headaches, nausea and seizures.. |