Signs of Sodium Deficiency

[⊙＿⊙]

Signs of Sodium Deficiency
By Abigail Adams Aug 16, 2013
Sodium is an electrolyte the body needs to help regulate blood pressure and ensure muscle and nerve cells work properly. Normal blood sodium levels fall between 135 and 145 mEq/L. Conditions such as overhydration, burns, diarrhea and vomiting may cause sodium levels to drop below normal, a condition called hyponatremia. The decreased sodium levels in the blood cause fluid to move into tissue cells. Recognizing the symptoms of sodium deficiency is important because when left untreated, the condition may lead to death.

Gastrointestinal Distress
Some symptoms of low sodium include gastrointestinal distress. The condition may cause a decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting. If a person with low sodium levels experiences vomiting, the hyponatremia may continue to worsen.
Cognitive Impairment
Decreased sodium levels may cause altered mental status. Most of the tissues in the body can handle the expanding tissue cells caused by the hyponatremia, but the brain cannot compensate for the increased cell size. Brain dysfunction may occur because of the changes. Symptoms of this impairment include a headache, lethargy, fatigue and confusion. As the condition worsens, a person may experience irritability and hallucinations. A decreased level of consciousness, a coma and possibly death may also occur when blood sodium levels drop.

Muscular Problems
Low levels of sodium in the blood may cause symptoms involving muscles in the body. Symptoms include problems such as spasms or cramps. Muscles may experience fatigue easily when a person has low sodium levels. Muscular weakness and seizures are additional signs of a sodium deficiency.
Related: Causes of Low Sodium Levels in the Body
Severity of Symptoms
The symptoms of low blood sodium levels may vary depending on the severity of the condition. A person with a slow decrease in sodium levels may not experience any symptoms, while a person with a rapid decrease in sodium levels may have severe symptoms, according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Age may also play a role in the severity of symptoms associated with low sodium levels. Older individuals may experience more severe symptoms than a younger person with the same sodium levels. General health also plays a role in symptoms because an aged, chronically ill person tends to develop more severe symptoms than a healthy, young person, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Without proper treatment to correct the imbalance, the symptoms of sodium deficiency will worsen.
References
Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Hyponatremia; James L. Lewis, III, MD; May 2009
American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Sodium; March 2011
MedlinePlus: Hyponatremia; November 2009
MayoClinic.com: Hyponatremia; July 2009


Causes of Low Sodium Levels in the Body
Causes of Low Sodium Levels in the Body
By Leann Mikesh, Ph.D. Jun 11, 2015
Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure and fluid levels in your body; it also plays a role in the normal function of nerves and muscles. A blood sodium level below 135 mmol/L is considered low. Headache, nausea, weakness, confusion or lack of energy are typical symptoms of low sodium, also called hyponatremia. However, you may not experience any symptoms. Hyponatremia is caused by several diseases that affect water and sodium levels.

Hypervolemic Hyponatremia
Hypervolemic hyponatremia is a condition when a low sodium level in your blood is due to an increase of water and sodium -- but the water increase is greater and dilutes the sodium. The most common causes of hypervolemic hyponatremia are heart, kidney and liver failure. During congestive heart failure, the heart cannot pump a sufficient amount of blood. This causes fluid accumulation in the body. Cirrhosis is characterized by scarring of the liver and poor liver function, which also causes fluid accumulation. Kidney disease that results in protein can also lead to excess fluid accumulation and hyponatremia.
Euvolemic Hyponatremia
In euvolemic hyponatremia, the amount of sodium in your body stays the same while the amount of water increases. Euvolemic hyponatremia is the most common form of low sodium diagnosed in the hospital setting. This often due to infusion of large volumes of certain types of IV fluids. A condition called the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, or SIADH, can also lead to euvolemic hyponatremia. In SIADH, excess amounts of the hormone ADH are produced. ADH regulates body water. Excess ADH causes the kidneys to retain too much water. Certain types of cancer, lung infections, and brain disorders can cause SIADH. Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, may also lead to euvolemic hyponatremia in some people.

Hypovolemic Hyponatremia
When both sodium and water are lost from your body, but sodium is lost to a greater extent, hypovolemic hyponatremia results. This condition can develop with certain types of chronic kidney disease: sodium that would normally be retained by the kidneys is lost in the urine. With Addison disease, fluid-regulating hormones are produced in insufficient amounts, causing loss of sodium and water, to a lesser extent. Hyponatremia may also occur when excessive water consumption occurs during strenuous exercise such as running a marathon. For example, when sweating, you lose sodium. If you drink excessively large volumes of water, the remaining sodium in your blood can be diluted. Diarrhea or vomiting can also lead to hyponatremia, due to the loss of fluids and sodium. Head injuries, bleeding in the brain and certain types of brain surgery may lead to hypovolemic hyponatremia as well.
Related: Signs of Sodium Deficiency
Drug-Induced Hyponatremia
Certain medications and drugs can alter sodium levels in your body. Diuretic medications commonly cause hyponatremia, because they stimulate your kidneys to excrete sodium in the urine. Other medications, such as certain antidepressants and pain medications, can lead to excess ADH hormone production. SIADH can also develop with use of the street drug MDMA, commonly called Ecstasy.
References
Clinical Endocrinology: Hyponatremia
Postgraduate Medical Journal: Hyponatraemia in Clinical Practice
Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics; Carl Burtis, et al.

Low Sodium Levels & Agitation
Low Sodium Levels & Agitation
By Joseph Pritchard Aug 16, 2013
Hyponatremia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of sodium. Sodium helps regulate the amount of water inside and around your cells. When your sodium levels become too low this causes the water levels in your body to increase and your cells to swell, MayoClinic.com explains. Hyponatremia causes a number of symptoms that affect your state of mind such as confusion, anxiousness and irritability. Severe hyponatremia sometimes causes unconsciousness and even coma. Seeking immediate medical attention helps lower your risk of experiencing other complications from low sodium.

Sodium Levels and Risk Factors
It is possible to determine your sodium levels through a blood test. The range of what is considered normal varies slightly among different laboratories. Nevertheless, sodium levels between 135 mEq/L and 145 mEq/L are generally considered normal, MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, notes. Factors such as taking diuretic medications, recent physical trauma and eating a low salt diet raise your risk of developing hyponatremia. Intense physical activities and medical conditions such as kidney disease also affect your risk, MayoClinic.com says.
Sodium and Mood
A 2008 issue of "Physiology & Behavior" featured a study that discussed various experiments involving induced hyponatremia that linked sodium levels and clinical depression. One particular experiment mentioned in the study involved the use of rat test subjects that exhibited symptoms consistent with depression after their sodium levels dropped below normal levels. The study posited a link between salt craving and mood. The study even suggested the possibility of salt being akin to addiction hence the negative effect of low sodium levels on mood. More research, however, is necessary to validate this assertion.

Salt-Sensitivity and Agitation
A German research team conducted a psychological evaluation of the effect of mental stress and increased blood pressure on salt-sensitive volunteers. Salt-sensitive people apparently have an increased susceptibility to emotional irritation and lower anger management when under duress compared to people that are not salt-sensitive, according to a study published in a 1999 issue of "Psychotherapie, Psyhocomatik, Medizinische Psychologie," Moreover, the elevated degree of anxiety and irritation caused by stress also increased blood pressure. It is possible that hypernatremia elicits a similar irritable emotional response as the stress. More research, however, is necessary to examine the relationship between sodium levels and mood among salt-sensitive and normal people.
Related: Causes of Low Sodium Levels in the Body
Severe Hyponatremia and the Young
The "Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal" featured a study in a 2006 issue that assessed the incidence of hyponatremia in young hospitalized patients and found that 20 out of 3,561 patients that were aged 18 or younger developed severe hyponatremia as a result of receiving hypotonic intravenous fluids. The study further determined that about 60 percent of the 3,561 patients developed hyponatremia and exhibited increased irritability as a result. This is significant because low sodium is generally more common in older adults, MayoClinic.com says. Further research is necessary to examine the link between hyponatremia and age.
References
MayoClinic.com; Hyponatremia; July 2011
MedlinePlus; Sodium; David C. Dugdale; November 2009
"Psychotherapie, Psyhocomatik, Medizinische Psychologie"; Emotional Irritability and Anxiety in Salt-Sensitive Persons at Risk for Essential Hypertension; Buchholz K, et al.; August 1999
"Physiology & Behavior"; Salt Craving: The Psychobiology of Pathogenic Sodium Intake; Michael J. Morris; August 2008
"Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal"; Incidence and Outcome of Severe Hyponatremia in Children and Young Adults; Zakia Al-Lamki, et al.; June 2006

Does a Low Sodium Level Cause Nausea & Sweating?
Does a Low Sodium Level Cause Nausea & Sweating?
By Lynne Sheldon Jan 28, 2015
The fluids outside of your cells contain the majority of the sodium in your body. If your sodium levels become too low, you can develop hyponatremia. This can result in a variety of symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, as well as the sweating that can occur with this. However, too much sodium is dangerous, as well. Seek medical attention if you are concerned about your sodium levels or believe you may have hyponatremia.

Causes of a Low Sodium Level
Hyponatremia occurs either when there is too much water or not enough sodium in your blood, and it is most common among older adults who are hospitalized or living in care facilities. This condition and its symptoms can have a variety of causes, including drinking too much water, infrequent urination, medications like diuretics or antidepressants and heart failure. Sweating, burns and vomiting can also cause your sodium levels to become too low.
Symptoms, Tests and Treatment
Along with nausea and vomiting, common symptoms of low sodium levels include confusion, convulsions, fatigue, headaches, irritability and muscle weakness or spasms. You may also experience a loss of consciousness or even a coma. Because the symptoms of hyponatremia can vary, your doctor will need to perform a blood test to determine if you have this condition. Treatment varies as well and will depend on the cause of your low sodium levels. You may have to change medications or alter your water and salt intake.

Sodium Intake
Sodium is essential for maintaining your balance of fluids, as well as helping your nerves to communicate with each other. While not getting enough can be dangerous, consuming too much sodium can raise your blood pressure, as well as increase your likelihood of developing heart disease or having a stroke. Unless otherwise advised by your doctor, you should limit your intake of sodium to 2,300 mg a day. If you are of African American descent, are over 51 or have high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes, you may need to limit your intake to 1,500 mg.
Related: Does a Sodium Deficiency Cause Bloating?
Additional Considerations
Hyponatremia can be life-threatening, so you should seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing nausea or sweating or have any other symptoms associated with low sodium levels. Never alter your sodium intake or stop taking medications without first asking your doctor, as this can be dangerous to your health. If you need help designing a diet that includes the right amount of sodium for you, ask your health care provider for assistance.
References
MedlinePlus; Hyponatremia; November 2009

Does a Sodium Deficiency Cause Bloating?
Does a Sodium Deficiency Cause Bloating?
By Frankie Smith Jul 06, 2015
Sodium is an essential mineral for your body's health and well being, in spite of the bad rap it gets. Hyponatremia is a medical term for extremely low levels of sodium in the blood. Your body requires sodium to move water throughout in order to rehydrate cells. Hyponatremia is concern in endurance sports, where you lose high amounts of sodium and your body is unable to rehydrate although you may be drinking sufficient amounts of fluids.Hyponatremia can cause bloating.

What is a Sodium Deficiency?
Salt is an essential mineral your body needs to operate effectively. Sodium is an electrolyte mineral that conducts electricity and regulates the amount of water around cells. The medical term for severe sodium deficiency is hyponatremia. This condition is not generally caused by a lack of the mineral in food sources, but it can result from excessive water intake, excessive exercise, water pills, certain medications, cirrhosis of the liver, a low-sodium and high-water diet, and the recreational drug Ecstasy, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Other medical conditions causing hyponatremia may include polydipsia, hypothyroidism and Addison's disease.
Signs and Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic website, "When the sodium level in your blood becomes too low, extra water enters your cells and causes them to swell." Symptoms of sodium deficiency include dehydration, heart palpitations, fatigue, diarrhea, restlessness, irritability, seizures and cramps, as well as bloating, confusion, unconsciousness and coma.

Treatment
Bloating occurs in hyponatremia due to your body's response to low sodium. Treatment for hyponatremia focuses on addressing the underlying cause of the low sodium levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. This may involve ceasing excessive diuretic use, decreasing length and intensity of exercise, or focusing on treatment of underlying disease. Acute hyponatremia treatments involve intravenous fluids, medications to manage headache, nausea and seizures, as well as hormone therapy where applicable.
Related: How Much Water Should I Drink if I Have Low Blood Sodium?
Prevention
The USA Track and Field recommends 100 percent replacement of fluids lost during a marathon event and provides a guide to calculate optimal hydration; this is a departure from previous theories that runners should drink as much as possible during an event. The Mayo Clinic suggests no more than 34 oz., or 1 liter, of water per hour of exercise. Consume sports beverages to replace lost electrolytes. Discuss any conditions that may contribute to hyponatremia with your doctor prior to engaging in intense or lengthy bouts of exercise.
References
The Merck Manual: Overview of Malabsorption
Health Supplements Nutritional Guide: Sodium
Home Remedy Central: Socium (Salt)
USA Track and Field: USATF Announces Major Change in Hydration Guidelines
Resources
USA Track and Field: USATF Self-Testing Program for Optimal Hydration

How Much Water Should I Drink if I Have Low Blood Sodium?
How Much Water Should I Drink if I Have Low Blood Sodium?
By Sharon Perkins Aug 02, 2015
Low levels of sodium in the blood, medically termed hyponatremia, can cause serious medical problems. The most common electrolyte imbalance seen in the United States, according to PubMedHealth, hyponatremia can be worsened by large amounts of water intake. Normal sodium levels range between 136 to 145 milliequivalents per liter. The amount of fluid you should take in if you have hyponatremia depends on the exact cause of the imbalance. Do not attempt to treat low sodium levels without your doctor's supervision.

Low Sodium and Excess Fluid
If you retain large amounts of fluid because you have congestive heart failure or kidney disease, the extra fluid can dilute the sodium you have in your blood. If you have mild hyponatremia, over 120 milliequivalents per liter of sodium, decreasing your fluids to 500 to 1,500 milliliters of fluid or between 18 and 50 ounces of fluid per day may help, Global RPh reports. Your doctor may also order diuretics to clear out some of the extra fluid.
Water Intoxication
Drinking large amounts of water can disturb also your electrolyte imbalance. If you drink a lot of plain water after an athletic event, when you've sweated and lost large amounts of sodium and other electrolytes, you can develop low sodium levels. You may need intravenous solutions containing normal saline, which is an isotonic solution, a solution with the same sodium composition as blood, containing 9 grams of sodium and chloride per liter of fluid.

Dehydration
If you have fluid loss because you're dehydrated, your sodium levels will drop as your overall fluid volume drops. In this case, you will need additional fluid but you need intravenous fluid containing normal saline, not plain water. You may need a total of 500 to 3,000 ml of normal saline infused at 500 milliliters per hour until your volume level rises to normal levels, Global RPh states.
Related: Does a Sodium Deficiency Cause Bloating?
Considerations
Unless you know the cause of hyponatremia and treat it appropriately, you can cause more harm than good. Drinking more fluids could cause serious harm if you have excess fluid, although it may help if you have low fluid volume. Low sodium volume must be corrected slowly, according to Patient.co.uk. Symptoms of low sodium don't usually appear until your levels fall below 120 milliequivalents per liter. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, confusion,weight gain, high blood pressure and seizures. Symptoms of hyponatremia with low fluid volume include dizziness, weakness, tremors, irritability and seizures.
References
Global RPh: Hypoantremia
PubMedHealth: Hyponatremia
Patient.co.uk; Hyponatremia; March 2009
Paramedicine.com: Normal Saline Solution



http://www.livestrong.com/article/540965-how-much-water-should-i-drink-if-i-have-low-blood-sodium/