5 Things You Need to Know About What Causes Low Sodium

Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea
Low blood sodium, also known as hyponatremia, may occur when there is excessive water or sodium loss. If you’re prone to vomiting excessively when ill or if you’re faced with a bout of food poisoning that causes severe diarrhea, you may be at risk for this condition. Signs of hyponatremia include: muscle twitches, lethargy, headaches, nausea and confusion. This can quickly lead to a life-threatening condition as swelling of the brain may occur, so seek help if you notice any of these symptoms when ill.

Water Intoxication
Fairly recently, there was a radio station contest to see which of its listeners could drink the most water without urinating. Seems like a fun and harmless game, no? Actually, it turns out it wasn't; one of the contestants actually died from water intoxication. Hyponatremia-related deaths have also occurred among quite a few people who either drank too much water or lost too much sodium via sweat during an endurance event. If you are considering participating in an long-distance race such as a marathon, try consuming sports drinks, which contain small amounts of sodium, and don’t take in too many fluids overall, especially if you won’t be able to urinate until the race ends.

Kidney and Heart Failure
People with congestive heart failure or kidney disease are at a greater risk of developing low sodium, as they have trouble excreting water at a normal rate. If you or someone you know has kidney or heart disease, it is vital to follow doctors’ orders precisely with regard to medication regimen, sodium and fluid intake to prevent hyponatremia from occurring. Doctors typically prescribe diuretics (medications that help relieve fluid retention) and instruct their patients with these medical conditions to limit their fluid and sodium intake.

Some Medications
Certain medications may actually cause hyponatremia. Diuretics are the most obvious, since their job is to enhance sodium and water excretion. Sometimes, they can cause the body to excrete too much sodium. There are also other commonly prescribed medications that may inadvertently pull excessive sodium from the body. Heed caution if you are taking drugs for depression or bipolar disorder. While rare, low sodium has been known to occur in people taking these drugs. Some chemotherapy drugs may also induce an imbalance of fluids and sodium, so cancer patients need to be aware of this, especially if they’re prone to vomiting post treatment.

Holding the Salt a Bit Too Much
While most of us consume way too many salty foods, some people, whether intentionally or not, don’t consume enough; the end result is low blood sodium. If you’re on a medically prescribed sodium-restricted diet, try not to go overboard and eliminate all sources of sodium altogether. Be sure to see your doctor or registered dietitian for tips on how to make sure you are taking in proper amounts of sodium and fluids.