Sodium is often touted as a villain in the nutrient world. And while too much of the salty stuff can be quite dangerous -- causing high blood pressure and increasing the risk for various diseases -- a small amount of the nutrient is necessary for normal body function. In fact, critically low sodium levels can be downright dangerous, placing the body and brain at risk. Show Test ResultsAccording to “Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications,” the normal sodium level in the blood is 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter of blood. Any value below 135 mEq/L is considered to be a low sodium level, a condition medically referred to as hyponatremia. As sodium levels drop to 125 mEq/L, the situation becomes more serious. And when the sodium level drops to 115 mEq/L or below, the situation is critical and requires immediate treatment. Compensatory MechanismsSodium is the major electrolyte found outside the body’s cells. It circulates through the bloodstream and plays an important role in maintaining blood pressure and fluid balance. When sodium levels in the bloodstream drop, the body attempts to compensate by moving water from the bloodstream into the cells. This fluid shift attempts to create a safe ratio of sodium to water -- so the sodium is neither too concentrated nor too diluted. When water rushes into cells, it causes them to swell. DangersTypically, the swelling that occurs with a sodium shift is relatively harmless. Most cells can handle the influx of water -- and while you might notice uncomfortable puffiness or swelling in various areas of your body, it typically has no ill effects. But when the cells in the brain swell, it’s much more detrimental. Because brain cells are so tightly confined by the skull bones, even a small amount of swelling can be dangerous. This is particularly dangerous when sodium levels drop rapidly, causing brain cells to swell rapidly. Without immediate medical treatment, this rapid swelling could lead to coma and death. SymptomsThe common symptoms of hyponatremia are related to brain swelling. Early symptoms might include confusion, headache and irritability. As the swelling progresses, additional symptoms might include hallucinations, loss of consciousness and coma. Since sodium also plays a role in muscle contraction, critically low sodium levels can also cause muscle weakness, cramps or spasms. TreatmentThe main treatment for hyponatremia involves identifying and correcting the underlying cause. If excessive vomiting or diarrhea is causing massive sodium loss, putting a stop to the vomiting and diarrhea is necessary to help bring sodium levels back to normal levels. While the underlying cause is being corrected, additional treatments will often be used to temporarily correct the hyponatremia. These treatments might include infusing sodium-filled fluids into the body through an intravenous catheter and restricting the amount of fluid consumed by mouth. Stop paying too much for your prescriptionsThanks for visiting! GoodRx is not available outside of the United States. If you are trying to access this site from the United States and believe you have received this message in error, please reach out to and let us know. In hyponatremia, the level of sodium in blood is too low. A low sodium level has many causes, including consumption of too many fluids, kidney failure, heart failure, cirrhosis, and use of diuretics. Symptoms
result from brain dysfunction. At first, people become sluggish and confused, and if hyponatremia worsens, they may have muscle twitches and seizures and become progressively unresponsive. The diagnosis is based on blood tests to measure the sodium level. Restricting fluids and stopping use of diuretics can help, but severe hyponatremia is an emergency requiring use of drugs, intravenous fluids, or both. Certain conditions may cause people to drink too much water (polydipsia), which can contribute to the development of hyponatremia. Thiazide diuretics (sometimes called water pills) are a common cause of hyponatremia. These drugs increase sodium excretion, which increases water excretion. Thiazide diuretics are usually well-tolerated but can cause hyponatremia in people prone to low sodium, particularly the elderly. Vasopressin (also called antidiuretic hormone) is a substance naturally produced in the body that helps regulate the amount of water in the body by controlling how much water is excreted by the kidneys. Vasopressin decreases water excretion by the kidneys, which retains more water in the body and dilutes the sodium. The pituitary gland produces and releases vasopressin when the blood volume (amount of fluid in the blood vessels) or blood pressure goes down or when levels of electrolytes (such as sodium) become too high. Pain, stress, exercise, a low blood sugar level, and certain disorders of the heart, thyroid gland, kidneys, or adrenal glands can stimulate the release of vasopressin from the pituitary gland. The following are some of the drugs that stimulate the release of vasopressin or enhance its action at the kidney:
Other causes of hyponatremia include
The brain is particularly sensitive to changes in the sodium level in blood. Therefore, symptoms of brain dysfunction, such as sluggishness (lethargy) and confusion, occur first. If the sodium level in blood falls quickly, symptoms tend to develop rapidly and be more severe. Older people are more likely to have severe symptoms. As hyponatremia becomes more severe, muscle twitching and seizures may occur. People may become unresponsive, aroused only by vigorous stimulation (stupor), and eventually cannot be aroused (coma). Death may follow.
Hyponatremia is diagnosed by measuring the sodium level in blood. Determining the cause is more complex. Doctors consider the person’s circumstances, including other disorders present and drugs taken. Blood and urine tests are done to evaluate the amount of fluid in the body, the concentration of blood, and content of urine.
Mild hyponatremia can be treated by restricting fluid intake to less than 1 quart (about 1 liter) per day. If a diuretic or other drug is the cause, the dose is reduced or the drug is stopped. If the cause is a disorder, it is treated. Occasionally, people are given a sodium solution intravenously, a diuretic to increase excretion of fluid, or both, usually slowly, over several days. These treatments can correct the sodium level. Severe hyponatremia is an emergency. To treat it, doctors slowly increase the level of sodium in the blood with intravenous fluids and sometimes with a diuretic. Newer drugs, called vaptans, are sometimes needed. Increasing the sodium level too rapidly can result in severe and often permanent brain damage. CLICK HERE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL VERSION  Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. What is the danger level of low sodium?Hyponatremia occurs when your blood sodium level goes below 135 mEq/L. When the sodium level in your blood is too low, extra water goes into your cells and makes them swell. This swelling can be dangerous especially in the brain, since the brain cannot expand past the skull.
What causes sodium levels to be low?Chronic, severe vomiting or diarrhea and other causes of dehydration. This causes your body to lose electrolytes, such as sodium, and also increases ADH levels. Drinking too much water. Drinking excessive amounts of water can cause low sodium by overwhelming the kidneys' ability to excrete water.
How do you raise your sodium level?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.. |
What can happen if your sodium is too low
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