Sodium plays a critical role in some of the human body's most important functions. This element helps maintain normal blood pressure and blood volume, assists in the transport and absorption of nutrients and maintains electrical activity in the body. Deviations from the normal range of sodium in a blood analysis have serious complications.
Identification
Doctors identify your amount of sodium with a blood test. A lab technician or phlebotomist draws a sample of blood from your vein and sends it to a laboratory for processing. Laboratory professionals examine the sample to determine the amount of sodium present. The normal level of sodium in the blood ranges from 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter, according to MedlinePlus.
Hyponatremia
Medical professionals refer to abnormally low levels of sodium in the blood as hyponatremia. Causes of hyponatremia include Addison's disease, excessive water consumption during physical activity, use of diuretics, increased thirst, severe vomiting and diarrhea and low-sodium diet. MayoClinic.com reports that exposure to hot weather, advanced age, intensive exercise and use of Ecstasy increase the risk for abnormally low sodium levels in the blood. Symptoms of hyponatremia include fatigue, nausea, headache, vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy. Without treatment, this condition could cause seizures, loss of consciousness and coma.
Hypernatremia
Doctors refer to greater than normal concentrations of sodium in the blood as hypernatremia. Elderly people, people with decreased kidney function and those who take medications that increase water excretion have an increased risk for this condition. Causes of hypernatremia include excessive water loss, severe diarrhea and vomiting, high-sodium diet, excessive sweating and failure to drink enough water. Symptoms of elevated sodium levels depend on the underlying cause but might include reduced urination, muscle twitching, fatigue and confusion. Hyponatremia leads to coma and death if left untreated, according to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine.
Dietary Factors
Because many foods contain sodium, diet plays an important role in regulating sodium levels in the blood. If you have abnormally low sodium levels, your doctor might recommend increasing your daily sodium intake. If you have an abnormally high level of sodium, you might have to decrease the amount of sodium you eat each day. Avoid high-sodium foods such as table salt, potato chips, bacon, canned soups, cheese, luncheon meats, frozen meals and canned vegetables.
Medications
Medications also affect how much sodium you have in your blood. Kian Peng Goh of Alexandra Hospital in Singapore reports that vasopressin analogs, SSRIs, theophylline, carbamazepine, indapamide, chlorpromazine and amiodarone increase the risk for low sodium levels. Steroids and some blood pressure medicines increase the risk for high sodium levels, according to Chemocare.com.
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