Sodium helps to regulate the amount of water that is in the blood and around your cells. Having levels of sodium in your body that are too low can be just as dangerous as having high levels of sodium in your body. Figuring out the cause of your low sodium, or hyponatremia, is important for determining the appropriate treatment.
Causes
Kidney, heart or liver failure can cause hypervolemic hyponatremia, where too much water dilutes the sodium levels in your blood. Cancer and other chronic health conditions, as well as certain medications, can cause euvolemic hyponatremia, in which you have normal levels of water but not enough sodium in the blood. Blood loss or exercising when it is hot and not consuming both water and electrolytes can cause hypovolemic hyponatremia, where both water and sodium levels are low. Vomiting, diarrhea, severe burns, hypothyroidism, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and using diuretics can also cause low sodium.
Effects
When sodium levels are low outside the cells, water will move into the cells to try to achieve a better sodium balance, causing swelling. This isn't too serious for many of the cells in your body, as they have room to expand. However, your brain cells can only swell so much before the skull gets in the way, leading to some of the first symptoms of hyponatremia.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hyponatremia include confusion, convulsions, decreased consciousness or a coma, lethargy, headache, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, muscle cramps or spasms, seizures, hallucinations, muscle weakness, restlessness and unresponsiveness. If not treated, hyponatremia can lead to death.
Considerations
You can have low sodium levels without having any symptoms, according to a 2004 article published in "American Family Physician." You have low sodium if your plasma sodium levels are below 135 mEq per L, but symptoms don't usually start until they are below 120 mEq per L. Older people are particularly at risk for this problem, as they have less fluid in their body to start with and decreased thirst. They may also have reduced kidney function or trouble getting water for themselves due to health conditions.
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