Sodium is a nutrient that the body needs for many vital processes. It plays an important part in muscle and nerve function, as well as in water balance. The kidneys determine how much sodium to excrete to prevent sodium imbalance. Too little sodium in the blood is called hyponatremia and it can lead to several neurological problems.
Benefits
Ninety percent of the body's sodium content is found outside the cells. Movement of sodium into and out of the cells is necessary for nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction. Sodium helps the body absorb water, glucose and amino acids in the small intestine. Additionally, the Linus Pauling Institute explains that sodium helps with blood pressure maintenance.
Causes
Antidiuretic hormone stimulates the body to retain water. When the total amount of water in the body is higher than the amount of sodium in the body, sodium concentration drops and hyponatremia can occur. Too much antidiuretic hormone, movement of water in the cells to the bloodstream and drinking too much water can cause this. A decrease in total body water and an even lower amount of sodium in the body can lead to hyponatremia.
Aldosterone is a hormone that stimulates sodium retention in the kidneys. Low blood levels of aldosterone can cause hyponatremia because the kidneys excrete more sodium in urine. Loss of sodium through diarrhea and vomiting are also possible causes of low sodium levels.
Effects
The brain is very sensitive to changes in sodium levels. In hyponatremia, water moves from the bloodstream to the cells in an effort to bring sodium concentration back to normal. This makes the cells swell with water and can cause brain dysfunction. Swelling of brain cells causes most hyponatremia symptoms such as confusion and lethargy. More severe symptoms such as seizures, coma and death may then follow.
Diagnosis
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia explains that diagnosing hypontremia involves measuring the amount of sodium in the urine and blood. These tests are called sodium blood test and urine sodium test. Urine osmolality and osmolality blood tests are used to measure the total amount of chemical particles in the urine and blood. They are also used in hyponatremia diagnosis.
Treatment
Mild forms of hyponatremia may be treated with water or fluid restriction. Treatment also involves addressing the root cause of the problem. If cancer is involved, then surgery and radiation may be needed. If a medication is the causative factor, it could be reduced or stopped all together. In severe cases of hyponatremia, blood levels of sodium are increased with intravenous fluids and medicines.
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