Hyponatremia
What is hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia Care Guide
Hyponatremia (hi-po-na-TRE-me-ah) occurs when the amount of sodium (salt) in your blood becomes lower than normal. Sodium is an electrolyte (mineral) that is found in the body and keeps your body working properly. Sodium helps your muscles, heart, and digestive system work by moving into and out of cells. It helps control blood pressure and the amount of water or other fluids inside the body. Most sodium in the body can be found outside the cells. Hyponatremia happens when too much sodium leaves the body or when more water stays in the blood than sodium.
What causes hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia may be caused by a decrease in your body's sodium. It can also be caused by a large amount of water in the body. Any of the following conditions can lead to hyponatremia:
- Diet that is low in sodium. Foods with high sodium content may include table salt, milk, or processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, or ham.
- Drinking too much water or beer, or receiving too much fluid through your veins (IV).
- Intense and prolonged exercise causing excessive sweating.
- Medical conditions, such as Addison's disease, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, or cancer.
- Medicines, such as diuretics (water pills), antidepressants, anti-cancer, or pain medicines. Illegal (street) drugs, such as ecstasy, may also cause hyponatremia.
- Severe and prolonged diarrhea (loose bowel movement) or vomiting (throwing up).
- Trauma, such as brain injuries or burns.
What are the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia?
There are usually no signs and symptoms in mild hyponatremia. Symptoms may start to appear when the amount of sodium in your blood drops too low or too fast. In severe cases, you may have one or more of the following:
- Abdominal (stomach) cramps, nausea (upset stomach), or vomiting.
- Irregular or fast, pounding heartbeat.
- Headache, confusion, or trouble staying awake.
- Low blood pressure.
- Muscle weakness, twitching, or a feeling of pins and needles on the skin.
- Seizures (convulsions) or coma.
How is hyponatremia diagnosed?
You may need any of the following tests:
- Serum sodium: This is a blood test that checks the level of sodium in your blood. You have hyponatremia if your blood sodium level is 135 mmol/L (millimoles per liter) or lower.
- Urine sodium: This is a test that checks for the level of sodium in your urine. A sample of your urine is collected and is sent to a lab for tests.
How is hyponatremia treated?
Treatment depends on the cause and how bad your hyponatremia is. Caregivers may have to limit the amount of liquids you drink if you have extra water in your body. You may also need one or more of the following:
- Intravenous fluid: The amount of sodium in your blood may be increased by taking salt solutions. These salt solutions may be given slowly through your vein (IV).
- Medicines:
- Diuretics: These medicines are often called water pills. Diuretics help get rid of extra fluid your body, lungs, or brain may have collected. You may urinate more often when taking diuretics.
- Sodium retaining medicines: These medicines help your kidneys release large amounts of urine. This makes the extra water leave your body while the sodium stays inside your body. If a lot of sodium is left in your body, the blood level of sodium may go back to normal.
- Diuretics: These medicines are often called water pills. Diuretics help get rid of extra fluid your body, lungs, or brain may have collected. You may urinate more often when taking diuretics.
- Dialysis: You may need to have dialysis if medicines cannot decrease the extra water in your body. This may be done especially if your kidneys are not working well.
- Surgery: Surgery may be needed if your hyponatremia is caused by some diseases, such as a tumor.
Where can I find support and more information?
Having hyponatremia may be hard for you and your family. Contact the following for more information:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Leawood , KS 66211-2680
Phone: 1- 913 - 906-6000
Phone: 1- 800 - 274-2237
Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Building 31, room 9A04 Center Drive, MSC 2560
Bethesda , MD 208922560
Web Address: http://www.niddk.nih.gov
- National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York , NY 10016
Phone: 1- 212 - 889-2210
Phone: 1- 800 - 622-9010
Web Address: http://www.kidney.org
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
