Hyponatremia (low blood sodium)

About Hyponatremia (low blood sodium)

Low sodium levels in the blood. Sodium is important for maintaining blood pressure, and for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles. A sudden reduction in the blood sodium level or a severely low blood sodium level can cause lethal brain swelling. Causes of low sodium are: vomiting and diarrhea, burns, congestive heart failure, drugs that increase urine output (diuretics), kidney disease, cirrhosis, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).

Symptoms

Confusion, lethargy, seizure, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, vomiting, headache.

Tests & Diagnostics

A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests to determine and monitor blood sodium levels and to identify the cause of the disorder will be performed.

Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), EKG, Urinalysis (UA), X-ray.

Conventional treatment summary

The goal of therapy is to correct the sodium level and reverse the cause of the low sodium. Treatment includes: intravenous fluids with sodium, restriction of fluids with low sodium levels, and/or changing the patient's medications.

Medical specialties

Internal Medicine · Pediatrics · Nephrology · Family Practice · Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism · Pediatric Nephrology

This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Hyponatremia (low blood sodium).