Diet: Those who eat a low-sodium diet also have an increased risk of hyponatremia because they don't eat large amounts of sodium. Sodium is an electrolyte (mineral) that helps your muscles, heart, and digestive system work properly. If the blood screening indicates low sodium levels, a healthcare professional will typically need to perform additional tests to determine the cause. Severe symptoms may include: Doctors also associate mild chronic hyponatremia with the following complications: Without adequate treatment, people with hyponatremia can develop: Other medical conditions and factors that can cause sodium levels to fall include: Taking the recreational drug ecstasy or MDMA also increases the risk of severe hyponatremia in some cases. Central to the diagnosis is a blood test that measures the concentration of sodium in your blood. You need to see a competent diagnostician to assess your volume status (fluid overloaded, dehydrated, or normal), and Causes of acute hyponatremia can include excessive water intake (often in people with severe mental illness or developmental disability), use of the recreational drug ecstasy, receiving hypotonic fluid during surgery or extreme physical activity such as running a marathon, per Merck Manuals. What to know about potassium deficiency symptoms. Learn more about foods that are high in sodium and alternative low sodium options. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. 2010;45(4):364-71. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-45.4.364, Gankam Kengne F, Decaux G. Hyponatremia and the Brain. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.128554, Ozer PA, Kabatas EU, Kurtul BE, Diffi D, Zenciroglu A, Okumus N. A rare cause of retinal artery occlusion in severe hypernatremic dehydration in newborns. This article takes a closer look at the various symptoms and causes of hyponatremia. How low is too low? Because the symptoms of hyponatremia can vary so much from person to person, your doctor will probably order blood and urine tests to confirm the diagnosis. This content does not have an Arabic version. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. While most of the tissue in your body can accommodate this swelling, it is a major problem for your brain. A rapid decline in sodium levels is particularly dangerous to your brain. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. Low sodium levels can affect blood pressure, muscle contractions, and the delivery of nerve signals. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Health problems. If you have severe hyponatremia, you may need sodium to be replaced with intravenous (IV) fluids. Hyponatremia can have several causes, including severe diarrhea, no-salt diets, overhydration, use of diuretics, congestive heart failure, certain hormonal problems, and cirrhosis. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts School of Medicine. Common signs and symptoms of low sodium include: The 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). Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Dietary sodium and health: more than just blood pressure, Diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia: compilation of the guidelines, Clinical aspects of symptomatic hyponatremia, Complications and management of hyponatremia, Sweat rates, sweat sodium concentrations, and sodium losses in 3 groups of professional football players, Use the nutrition facts label to reduce your intake of sodium in your diet, A rare cause of retinal artery occlusion in severe hypernatremic dehydration in newborns, Relation of DietarySodiumIntake With Subclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease (from MESA). It is more prevalent among people with cancer. Symptoms of hyponatremia don't always appear suddenly. Sodium is a very important electrolyte that regulates blood pressure, and the amount of water in the cells, and helps in making the muscles and nerves work efficiently. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who are premenopausal appear to be at the greatest risk of brain damage from hyponatremia, perhaps because of the role of estrogen and progesterone in regulating sodium levels. Am J Cardiol. Sodium is an electrolyte (mineral). Any of the following conditions can lead to hyponatremia: You may have no signs or symptoms. Clinical aspects of symptomatic hyponatremia. If your sodium levels drop below 135 mmol per L, it's called hyponatremia. Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities. Hyponatremia can become an emergency if your sodium level falls too much or too quickly. Severe potassium deficiency is called hypokalemia, and it occurs when a persons potassium levels fall below 3.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). Front Med (Lausanne). Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/22/2022. Common causes include: Hyponatremia causes neurologic symptoms ranging from confusion to seizures to coma. It is also associated with worse outcomes if a stroke does occur. 2019 May 29. pii: S0002-9149(19)30581-8. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2019.05.014. Hyponatremia may also be caused by lifestyle factors or medical conditions that affect the balance of water and/or sodium in the body. Other treatments depend on the specific type of hyponatremia. As a result, water retention and the development of hyponatremia will be limited, unless distal delivery is very low or water intake is very high. Theyll also have to limit their water consumption. I have been told by my dr. subscribed 1 gm of sodium chloride 2x's daily for chronic hyponatremiathey cause nausea-vomiting. When sodium levels drop significantly, hyponatremia can cause Other risk factors for hyponatremia include: Location: People who live in warm climates have an increased risk of hyponatremia because they're more likely to sweat and drink water when it's hot out. Tests will check for abnormalities in your blood pressure, urine volume, and urine concentration. All rights reserved. In many cases, too much water in your body dilutes sodium levels. If youre an athlete, dont forget to include electrolytes when youre hydrating during sporting events. A common example of this type of medication is Furosemide (e.g Lasix). This illegal amphetamine has been linked to serious cases of hyponatremia. National Kidney Foundation: Electrolyte Imbalance., Medscape: How does ecstasy, or MDMA, induce hyponatremia? What causes hypervolemic hypernatremia?, UpToDate: Treatment of central diabetes insipidus., American Journal of Medicine: Hyponatremia as a Result of Posttraumatic Primary Polydipsia.. doi:10.1530/EC-16-0046, Kheetan M, Ogu I, Shapiro JI, Khitan ZJ. It is very important for maintaining blood pressure. When these athletes train and participate in competitions, they may lose large amounts of sodium as they sweat. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could Weismann D, et al. Specific causes of hyponatremia In acute there is usually a sudden fall in blood sodium levels (over When your body's sodium level drops too much, it can be a life-threatening emergency. If your hyponatremia came on suddenly and its severe, youll need emergency treatment to boost your sodium level and monitoring to make sure that it happens safely. Dell K M. Fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base homeostasis. If your doctor thinks you drink too much water, you may need to cut back. Read more: 4 Ways to Replenish Electrolytes After Sweating or Working Out. deficiency. Farquhar WB, Edwards DG, Jukovitz CT, Weintraub WS. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.12.039, Hoorn EJ, Zietse R. Diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia: compilation of the guidelines. Hyponatremia is a condition that happens when sodium levels in your blood are too low. Take 10 1gr sodium tabs. If you know you are at risk of hyponatremia and start seeing symptoms, call your doctor. What kind of medical conditions and surgeries you have or have had in the past. WebA low serum sodium may result from salt losses or from an excess amount of water in the bloodstream. Learn more about how drinking too much water can lower sodium levels. Some develop slowly over time with symptoms developing gradually. Treatment for hyponatremia involves restoring sodium levels and addressing what has caused them. Severe cases may require a hospital stay. Ask your doctor if you should drink sports beverages instead of water while doing intense physical activities. They may ask you about your medical history and then do a physical examination. privacy practices. Other signs and symptoms of moderate to severe hyponatremia include: Hyponatremia is very dangerous for many organs, but especially for the brain. The normal adult value for sodium is 136-145 mEq/L. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as these can cause you to have electrolyte disturbances. Rates of hyponatremia are higher among people admitted to hospital care units or with the medical conditions mentioned earlier. Treatment depends on the cause of your hyponatremia and how severe it is. 2021;8:693738. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.693738, Sterns RH, Silver SM. Accessed June 21, 2017. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This is when fluids containing water, sodium, and other key electrolytes are delivered gradually by "drips" into a vein using a needle. If they also drink water to hydrate their bodies, they risk diluting the sodium levels in their bloodstream to very low levels. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. The medical name of this condition is hyponatremia. This combination can be deadly because it dilutes the remaining sodium in the body. Takahashi PY (expert opinion). Hyponatremia is anelectrolyte 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. Medicines may also be given to help get rid of extra fluid in your body. Your healthcare provider will also check for neurological (nervous system-related) problems such as a loss of alertness, concentration, or orientation. The intravenous replacement of sodium needs to be done gradually. Low sodium is when the sodium levels in your blood drop too low. Hyponatremia causes water to move out of the bloodstream and into tissue cells, causing them to expand. They should call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency room. Follow all of your healthcare provider's recommendations for follow up blood work Individuals with the condition may need to restrict their intake of fluids and take salt tablets and other medications. a very low sodium level, your healthcare provider will cautiously correct the levels, The main cause of low sodium is an excess of water or fluid in your system. Water leaves our bodies in the form of sweat, urine and vomit. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition. The normal adult value for sodium is 136-145 mEq/L. A condition called SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone) can make you retain water. for medical advice. headaches. Drugs called vasopressin receptor antagonistsare sometimes used in people who have fluid retention and avoided in those with low fluid volumes. J Am Coll Cardiol. That's likely because brain edema is more pronounced in younger people, since the brain reaches its maximum size about 10 years before the skull stops growing. I have hyponatremia, low chloride and high TSH 12.8. But at any age, youre more likely to get it if you have certain conditions, including: Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), Primary polydipsia, a psychiatric condition that makes you want to drink lots of water. And a condition called Addisons disease can affect the hormones that help keep your electrolytes in check. The condition can also occur from diarrhea, sweating or vomiting. 11th ed. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. WebWhen sodium level falls slowly over days or weeks (chronic hyponatremia), the brain cells have time to adjust and swelling may be minimal. How hyponatremia is treated depends on the underlying cause and the severity of symptoms. 2017 May;28(5):13409. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Individuals with symptoms, including vomiting, seizures, or loss of consciousness, require immediate attention. Severe bone loss is one of the serious side effects of anorexia nervosa (AN). Hyponatremia (low blood sodium) is a condition that means you dont have enough sodium in your blood. High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms until it becomes severe, but it can lead to severe complications without treatment. Healthcare providers may limit the amount of liquids you drink if you are retaining water. Call. The chances of patients having low sodium levels were reduced from 24.6% to 14.1% during this time. A salt solution may be given through an IV to increase the amount of sodium in your blood. Without treatment, it can lead to more serious issues, such as brain swelling or coma. Low sodium that occurs in less than 48 hours (acute hyponatremia), is more dangerous than low sodium that develops slowly over time. Overview of the treatment of hyponatremia in adults. Because of the low sodium, the amount of water in your body rises and causes your cells to swell. It also explains how the condition is diagnosed and treated. include protected health information. Hyponatremia (low blood sodium) is a condition that means you dont have enough sodium in your blood. Hyponatremia is not a disease. If chronic hyponatremia is treated too aggressively, it may cause sodium levels to increase too rapidly and result in osmotic demyelination syndrome, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event. Mercy Health East Palestine Primary Care, Syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH). 2016 Sep;5(5):R35R43. Recovery of Sodium Deficiency in Dogs Post-treatment recovery and management depends largely on the underlying cause of the sodium deficiency. Dietary and lifestyle issues rarely affect sodium levels. Those pills will help in reducing blood pressure to normal limits. Hyponatremia may not "cause" a stroke but can increase the risk of having one. If delivered too quickly, sodium can damage the protective coating around nerves cells in the brain, referred to as osmotic demyelination. These conditions include heart failure, kidney failure and cirrhosis of the liver. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Diagnosis and Management of Sodium Disorders: Hyponatremia and Hypernatremia. The health of our patients, employees and the entire East Palestine community is our top priority and we are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to the region. Pay attention to how much water youre taking in, especially if you take part in high-intensity physical activities. You may not have any symptoms if your hyponatremia is very mild. How quickly the sodium level falls - hyponatraemia can be divided into acute or chronic. The treatment may involve increased salt intake for mild cases and intravenous sodium replacement for severe ones. as table salt. could I be allergic? for women with low sodium levels. If you have mild symptoms, your provider makes small adjustments to correct the problem.