Just as too much sodium causes serious health problems, so can low sodium levels. Your body needs sodium to perform a number of biological transactions, including nerve and muscle functioning and keeping your fluids balanced. Rarely are low sodium levels caused by consuming too little sodium; most Americans get too much. More often, a low sodium level is caused by other health conditions and occurs in about 1 percent of the population. If you have a low sodium level, you can experience a number of symptoms, ranging from mild physical discomfort to severe neurological problems. It also can be fatal.
Hyponatremia
The clinical term for low sodium level is hyponatremia. Having a low sodium level is essentially an electrolyte imbalance and means there's a problem with the ratio of sodium to the level of fluids in your body. Hyponatremia can result from excessive fluid retention, like water intoxication or drinking too much water, or it can result from excessive sodium loss through urination or sweating. Vomiting and diarrhea also can lead to low sodium levels. Conditions like burns, liver and kidney diseases, some cancers and diuretics also can directly cause hyponatremia. The condition is diagnosed when your blood sodium concentration measures less than 136 mmol/L. Treatment typically involves care of the underlying problem causing the imbalance. You also might receive intravenous fluids and medications to relieve symptoms, and have your water intake temporarily restricted.
Early Symptoms
The first effects of low sodium levels include nausea and a general feeling of queasiness that you might be unable to explain. A group of Temple University researchers publishing in "Evidence-Based Case Reviews" said you might see these symptoms when your sodium level falls below 130 mmol/L. As your sodium level dips even further, you might experience headache, lethargy and progressive mental disorientation.
Physical Symptoms
With low sodium levels, you also might experience muscle cramps, fainting, vomiting and physical exhaustion. These effects are a direct result of nerves and muscles not getting enough sodium for proper functioning. You also can experience muscle spasms and muscle weakness, as well as sudden convulsions. The Temple University researchers reported that hyponatremia eventually can result in respiratory arrest and coma once sodium levels fall below 120 mmol/L.
Neurological Effects
When your sodium levels fall rapidly, the effects often center around neurological problems. You might notice that you are confused, feel faint or experience hallucinations. Other effects include cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain, seizures and brain damage. Although low sodium levels affect men and women, the Temple University researchers said children and menstruating women are the ones most likely to experience brain damage as a result of low sodium levels. Without immediate medical treatment, the sudden onset of hyponatremia can be fatal, reports the Linus Pauling Institute.
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