The Symptoms Of High Sodium Levels

A high sodium level in the body, or hypernatremia, may be caused by the kidneys' inability to filter sodium from the body's fluid, inadequate water intake or the consumption of foods that contain a high level of sodium. You may be at risk for hypernatremia if you have diseased kidneys, a reduced thirst sensation due to aging or a diet high in sodium. Your body may alert you that its sodium level is abnormally high by exhibiting particular symptoms.

Blood Pressure

If your body contains an abnormally high level of sodium your blood pressure can increase and may eventually lead to a more serious cardiovascular disorder, such as a stroke or heart attack. You need to have your blood pressure checked routinely to detect hypertension because the condition has no reliable symptoms. A blood pressure reading higher than 140 over 90 is typically considered high.

Altered Mental Status

An excess of sodium and the resulting fluid imbalance in the body can cause mental confusion characterized by poor decision making and lack of awareness. These symptoms can worsen the sodium imbalance if mental confusion causes you to neglect your body's fluid needs and consume an inadequate level of water. Elderly patients who have a muted thirst sensation due to aging often experience sodium overload and mental confusion because they do not drink enough water.

Drowsiness

The imbalance of fluid and electrolytes in the body may cause inappropriate daytime tiredness, also known as drowsiness. If you experience falling asleep in inapppropriate situations during the day for no known reason, the cause may be too much sodium in your body, according to study results published in 2000 by researchers at Universitätsklinikum Dresden in Germany.

Increased Thirst

Your body tells you to drink more water when its sodium level is high relative to its water level. When you increase the body's water supply you dilute its sodium concentration and restore it to a normal level. If you are an older American with a reduced thirst sensation you are at increased risk for developing hypernatremia and need to closely monitor your fluid intake to prevent dehydration and related electrolyte imbalances.