īesides thirst, many of the symptoms of hypernatremia, such as irritability, restlessness and muscle twitching, affect the central nervous system and stem from a loss of water content from brain cells. The disorder can also affect much younger people: Infants may experience hypernatremia if they have severe diarrhea, for example. Too much sodium in the blood is a common problem in older adults, especially those who have been hospitalized or are in long-term care facilities, Mount said.
Water can be lost from brain cells, causing them to shrink, which can be dangerous. This causes sodium levels to become abnormally high in the blood - more than 145 mEq/L - which causes water to move out of body tissues and into the blood in an attempt to equalize the concentration between the two. In hypernatremia, the body contains too little water relative to the amount of sodium, Mount said. But sodium levels need to be corrected slowly and in a controlled fashion, to prevent swollen brain tissue, Mount said.
In moderate cases of hyponatremia that are the result of diet, taking diuretics or drinking too much water, a person may need to restrict water intake, consume salty foods - such as bouillon or pretzels - or adjust diuretic intake to raise blood sodium levels.Ī person with severe hyponatremia may be given a very concentrated saline solution intravenously. Treatment for hyponatremia depends on its cause and seriousness. Hyponatremia is not a permanent condition, although certain people may be more prone to the disorder than others because of lifestyle habits or a medical condition. Exercise-associated hyponatremia is more likely to affect endurance athletes, such as marathoners, triathletes and ultra-distance race competitors. People can also consume excessive amounts of water during exercise and develop hyponatremia, Mount told Live Science. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, a condition in which the body makes too much antidiuretic hormone, causing the body to retain too much water and diluting levels of sodium.Taking antidepressants, including some commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, particularly in older adults.Burns affecting a large area of the body.Congestive heart failure, which can lead to a build-up of excess fluid in the body.Kidney failure, a condition in which the kidneys have difficulty eliminating extra fluid from the body.Taking diuretics, medications that help flush excess water and sodium from the body.Excessive fluid intake, such as during endurance activities or from excessive thirst.According to the National Kidney Foundation, some of the causes may include: Hyponatremia can result from an illness or from taking certain medications. Other symptoms of the disorder include muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness and a lack of energy. The symptoms of hyponatremia may be more serious when blood sodium levels drop very quickly and may be milder when they dip gradually, as that allows the body more time to adjust to the change. This swelling can be especially dangerous for brain cells, resulting in neurological symptoms such as headache, confusion, irritability, seizures or even coma.
When sodium levels in the blood are too low, extra water goes into body cells causing them to swell. Hyponatremia occurs when blood sodium goes below normal levels, which is 135 milliequivalents/liter (mEq/L). In this electrolyte abnormality, there is too much water in the body and this dilutes sodium levels in the bloodstream, he noted.
Hyponatremia is a low concentration of sodium in the blood because of an excessive retention of water, Mount said.
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