Healthy levels of sodium in your blood, in proportion to your total body water, fall within a range of 136 to 145 mEq/L. Diagnosed as hyponatremia, a serum sodium of 135 mEq/L or lower leads to symptoms that can become severe, particularly if left untreated. Understanding the symptoms, types and causes of hyponatremia helps you assess your risk for the disorder, as well as how to intervene if you experience it.
Symptoms
Although there are three types of hyponatremia, symptoms of the electrolyte imbalance -- although they may range in severity -- are universal. Early, milder symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, irritability, fatigue, weakness and nausea. If unrecognized and untreated, symptoms can progress to confusion, loss of appetite, vomiting, muscle cramping and restlessness. The neurological symptoms of profound hyponatremia are hallucinations, a decrease in or loss of consciousness and ultimately, coma. If low serum sodium levels continue to fall beyond this stage of the condition, brain damage and death are potential complications.
Hypervolemic Hyponatremia
Hypervolemic hyponatremia results when your total body water is high relative to your serum sodium level. Large amounts of water dilute the sodium concentration of your blood, causing it to fall below 135 mEq/L and lower. Common causes of hypervolemic hypervolemia are congestive heart failure, liver failure and diseases of the kidneys. These conditions typically cause dysfunction in your body's ability to excrete water. Your body retains the excess water, and over time, hypervolemic hyponatremia resuts.
Hypovolemic Hyponatremia
Hypovolemic hyponatremia is a condition in which both your serum sodium and your total body water levels fall to abnormal levels. This type of hyponatremia occurs with extreme loss of blood or simple dehydration as a result of inadequate fluid intake. Profuse vomiting or diarrhea and water and salt loss through sweat during periods of exertion can also lead to this type of hyponatremia. Medical intervention using intravenous fluid replacement may be warranted in cases of blood loss or illnesses causing more rapid water loss than what you can replace. Staying on top of water and sodium loss through excessive sweating is an important way to avoid developing hyponatremia altogether.
Euvolemic Hyponatremia
Medications, such as diuretics, and chronic serious health conditions are the usual culprits in euvolemic hyponatremia. This electrolyte imbalance results from low serum sodium levels in relation to normal total body water levels. Certain types of diuretics, and other medications, cause your body to eliminate sodium through your urine. Inadequate sodium supplementation results in euvolemic hyponatremia in these cases, as well as cases involving chronic health conditions, such as cancer.
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