Sodium is the major electrolyte in the blood. It is used for blood volume control and to transmit impulses for nerve and muscle stimulation. The body tightly regulates the balance of sodium, as too much or little can be deadly. Too little sodium or excess water outside the cells is called hyponatremia. Conditions where this can happen include serious burns, cancer, congestive heart failure, excessive water intake during exercise, kidney disease and liver cirrhosis.
Brain Function
The brain is sensitive to changes in sodium levels. The elderly population can be susceptible to hyponatremia. General confusion can be a symptom of low sodium, and brain function can deteriorate to include hallucinations, decreased consciousness or even a coma in extreme instances.
Nausea
Nausea or loss of appetite is a symptom of hyponatremia. Vomiting may also occur. Severe vomiting and diarrhea cause loss of water and electrolytes like sodium, and may trigger hyponatremia or make it worse.
Muscle Problems
Feelings of weakness or lethargy may be present as a symptom of hyponatremia. Muscle spasms, cramps or possibly seizures may occur because of low sodium. Sodium helps regulate muscle contractions, so that is why hyponatremia may result in muscle weakness or spasms when there is not enough sodium in the body fluid to stimulate proper muscle contraction.
Treatment
Call a health care professional if symptoms of hyponatremia are present, as treatment includes diagnosis of hyponatremia from a health care professional. Treatments may include intravenous fluids, medications or water restriction. Recovery time depends on the severity and how quickly the hyponatremia came on. Hyponatremia that has occurred in a few days or less is typically more severe than chronic hyponatremia because the brain has time to adjust to the sodium level changes.
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