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Hyponatremia is a metabolic condition in which there is not enough sodium (salt) in the body fluids outside the cells.
Alternative NamesDilutional hyponatremia; Euvolemic hyponatremia; Hypervolemic hyponatremia; Hypovolemic hyponatremia
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSodium is found mostly in body fluids outside the cells. It is very important for maintaining blood pressure. Sodium is also needed for nerves and muscles to work properly.
When the amount of sodium in fluids outside cells drops, water moves into the cells to balance the levels. This causes the cells to swell with too much water. Although most cells can handle this swelling, brain cells cannot, because the skull bones confine them. Brain swelling causes most of the symptoms of hyponatremia.
In hyponatremia, the imbalance of water to salt is caused by one of three conditions:
- Euvolemic hyponatremia -- total body water increases, but the sodium content remains the same
- Hypervolemic hyponatremia -- both sodium and water content in the body increase, but water gain is greater
- Hypovolemic hyponatremia -- water and sodium are both lost from the body, but the sodium loss is greater
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in the United States.
Causes of hyponatremia include:
- Burns
- Congestive heart failure
- Diarrhea
- Use of medications called diuretics, which increase urine output
- Kidney diseases
- Liver cirrhosis
- Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
- Sweating
- Vomiting
Common symptoms include:
- Abnormal mental status
- Confusion
- Decreased consciousness
- Hallucinations
- Possible coma
- Convulsions
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle spasmsor cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Vomiting
The health care provider will perform a complete physical examination to help determine the cause of your symptoms. Blood and urine tests will be done.
The following laboratory tests can confirm hyponatremia:
- Osmolalityblood test
- Sodium blood test
- Urine osmolality
- Urine sodium
The cause of hyponatremia must be diagnosed and treated. In some cases, cancer may cause the condition, and radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery to remove the tumor may correct the sodium imbalance.
Other treatments depend on the specific type of hyponatremia.
Treatments may include:
- Fluids through a vein (IV)
- Medication to relieve symptoms
- Water restriction
The outcome depends on the condition that is causing the problem. In general, acute hyponatremia, which occurs in less than 48 hours, is more dangerous. When sodium levels fall slowly over a period of days or weeks (chronic hyponatremia), the brain cells have time to adjust and swelling is minimal.
Complications- Brain herniation
- Death
- Possible coma
Hyponatremia can be a life-threatening emergency. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of this condition.
PreventionTreating the condition that is causing hyponatremia can help. If you play any demanding sports, drink fluids that contain electrolytes ("sports drinks"). Drinking only water while you take part in high-energy athletic events can lead to acute hyponatremia.
ReferencesSkorecki K, Ausiello D. Disorders of sodium and water homeostasis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 117.
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∙ 13y ago
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∙ 12y agoHyponatremia is a metabolic condition in which there is not enough sodium (salt) in the body fluids outside the cells.
Alternative NamesDilutional hyponatremia; Euvolemic hyponatremia; Hypervolemic hyponatremia; Hypovolemic hyponatremia
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSodium is found mostly in the body fluids outside the cells. It is very important for maintaining blood pressure. Sodium is also needed for nerves and muscles to work properly.
When the amount of sodium in fluids outside cells drops, water moves into the cells to balance the levels. This causes the cells to swell with too much water. Although most cells can handle this swelling, brain cells cannot, because the skull bones confine them. Brain swelling causes most of the symptoms of hyponatremia.
In hyponatremia, the imbalance of water to salt is caused by one of three conditions:
- Euvolemic hyponatremia -- total body water increases, but the body's sodium content stays the same
- Hypervolemic hyponatremia -- both sodium and water content in the body increase, but the water gain is greater
- Hypovolemic hyponatremia -- water and sodium are both lost from the body, but the sodium loss is greater
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in the United States.
Causes of hyponatremia include:
- Burns
- Congestive heart failure
- Diarrhea
- Diuretic medications, which increase urine output
- Kidney diseases
- Liver cirrhosis
- Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
- Sweating
- Vomiting
Common symptoms include:
- Abnormal mental status
- Confusion
- Decreased consciousness
- Hallucinations
- Possible coma
- Convulsions
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle spasmsor cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Vomiting
The health care provider will perform a complete physical examination to help determine the cause of your symptoms. Blood and urine tests will be done.
The following laboratory tests can confirm hyponatremia:
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (includes blood sodium)
- Osmolalityblood test
- Urine osmolality
- Urine sodium
The cause of hyponatremia must be diagnosed and treated. In some cases, cancer may cause the condition, and radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery to remove the tumor may correct the sodium imbalance.
Other treatments depend on the specific type of hyponatremia.
Treatments may include:
- Fluids through a vein (IV)
- Medication to relieve symptoms
- Water restriction
The outcome depends on the condition that is causing the problem. In general, acute hyponatremia, which occurs in less than 48 hours, is more dangerous than hyponatremia that develops slowly over time. When sodium levels fall slowly over a period of days or weeks (chronic hyponatremia), the brain cells have time to adjust and swelling is minimal.
Complications- Brain herniation
- Death
- Possible coma
Hyponatremia can be a life-threatening emergency. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of this condition.
PreventionTreating the condition that is causing hyponatremia can help. If you play any sports, drink fluids that contain electrolytes (sports drinks). Drinking only water while you take part in high-energy athletic events can lead to acute hyponatremia.
ReferencesSkorecki K, Ausiello D. Disorders of sodium and water homeostasis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 117.
Verbalis JG, Berl T. Disorders of water balance. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 13.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/29/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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Difference between osmotic diuresis and water diuresis?
Osmotic Diuresis Water diuresis *High amount of H2O reabsoebed in *Normal absorption. PCT. *A lot of solutes are lost. *loss of solute amount is less. *Very high amounts of urine are *Amounts of urine produced are less produced. than that in osmotic diuresis. *Low medullary osmolality. *High medullary osmolality. *Normal *The limiting concentration gradient *The limiting gradient is not reached. for Na is reached at PCT. *Hyponatremia may occur. *Takes more time to get hyponatremia.
What are the uses for 3 percent sodium chloride solution?
3% sod chloride is used with care to treat symptomatic hyponatremia to increase the serum sodium by less than 1 mmol/litre every hour for fear of triggering central pontine myelinolysis. This can be combined with use of furosemide to remove free water from the body. Every litre of 3% NaCl has abt 515 mmol of Na Cl. Amount of Na Cl required is calculated as follows: Na Cl reqd = Body Wt x 0.5 x(125-Serum Na) Thank you all
What happens if you have too little manganese?
Mineral deficiencies have various effects, depending upon the specific mineral. Lack of iron produces anemia, which will make you very weak and fatigued. Lack of calcium weakens bone structure, which can result in easily broken bones. Lack of sodium or magnesium interferes with both nerve and muscle functioning and can result in a heart attack. And so forth.
What happens if you eat to little salt?
Eating a lot of salt is really bad for the diet. It increases, obesity, heart failure, heart attacks and many other health problems. It is best to see how much your daily intake is of salt and then tell your doctor how much you eat. Your doctor will then tell you if your daily intake is good or bad depending on your weight, height and age. However too much salt is really bad and if you think you are eating too much salt then please re-think about your diet.
Osmolality - blood?
DefinitionOsmality is a test that measures the concentration of all chemical particles found in the fluid part of blood.How the test is performedBlood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.How to prepare for the testDo not eat for 6 hours before the test. Your doctor may tell you to temporarily stop taking any drugs, such as Mannitol (a diuretic), that may interfere with test results.How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Why the test is performedThis test helps evaluate your body's water balance. Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of hyponatremia, water loss, or poisoning from harmful substances such as ethanol, methanol, or ethylene glycol. It may also be done if you have problems producing urine.Osmolality increases with dehydration and decreases with overhydration.In healthy people, when osmolality in the blood becomes high, the body releases antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This hormone causes your kidney to reabsorb water, which results in more concentrated urine. The reabsorbed water dilutes the blood, allowing the blood osmolality to fall back to normal.Low blood osmolality suppresses ADH, reducing how much water the kidney reabsorbs. You pass dilute urine to get rid of the excess water, and blood osmolality increases.Normal ValuesNormal values range from 280 to 303 milliosmoles per kilogram.Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.What abnormal results meanHigher than normal levels may indicate:DehydrationDiabetes insipidusEthylene glycol poisoningHyperglycemiaHypernatremiaMethanol poisoningRenal tubular necrosisStroke or head trauma resulting in deficient ADH secretionUremiaLower than normal levels may indicate:Excess fluid intakeHyponatremiaOverhydrationParaneoplastic syndromes associated with lung cancerSyndrome of inappropriate ADH secretionWhat the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:Excessive bleedingFainting or feeling light-headedHematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)ReferencesBazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 115.
What ICD-9 code is for hyponatremia?
276.1 is the ICD9 code for hyponatremia. Hyponatremia means low blood sodium levels.
What is the scientific term for water intoxication?
It is called hyponatremia. It is called hyponatremia.
How can hyponatremia be prevented?
Patients who take diuretic medications must be checked regularly for the development of hyponatremia.
How do you spell hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is spelled as H-Y-P-O-N-A-T-R-E-M-I-A.
Does a gastroenterologist treat hyponatremia?
If you have hyponatremia, start with your primary care provider. The initial testing that your PCP can do will direct you appropriately to the right specialist. There is no one specialist who treats hyponatremia; instead, you have to narrow the possible causes.
Does losartan causes hyponatremia?
Hyperkalemia, hyponatremia have been reported with losartan. This is listed in the adverse effects of losartan by Merck the manufacturers
Is nausea a symptom of hyponatremia?
Yes
Is slowed breathing a symptom of hyponatremia?
Yes
Is muscle weakness a symptom of hyponatremia?
Yes
How is hyponatremia diagnosed?
Hyponatremia is diagnosed by acquiring a blood sample, preparing plasma, and using a sodium-sensitive electrode for measuring the concentration of sodium ions.
Causes of hyponatremia?
The causes of hyponatremia can include dehydration. Imbibing too much water, certain medications like diuretics, kidney diseases, congestive heart failure, and excessive diarrhea or vomiting. Hyponatremia is a condition in which the body has a very low level of sodium.
What is the medical term meaning abnormally blood low sodium content?
The term for high blood sodium level is hypernatremia.
