Having low sodium in your blood is a condition known as hyponatremia, which results when there is an imbalance of salt and water in your body. It can occur for a variety of reasons, from diarrhea to congestive heart failure. Hyponatremia has many symptoms, though dry mouth is not typically one of them. Nevertheless, if you suspect that your sodium levels are low, seek medical attention for testing and treatment.
Water and Sodium
Low sodium can result from an act as seemingly innocuous as drinking too much water. If you have a chronically dry mouth, you may be trying to remedy it by consuming more and more water, which will upset the balance of minerals, including sodium, in your body. This in turn can cause acute hyponatremia. Furthermore, if you are athletic or exercise intensely and frequently, you may also ingest too much water to compensate for lost fluids, as well as quench your thirst, and this can lead to low sodium as well.
Symptoms and Other Causes of Low Sodium
The most common symptoms of low sodium include fatigue, nausea, headaches, confusion, hallucinations, restlessness, loss of appetite, muscle cramps and vomiting. In addition to drinking too much water, low sodium can also be caused by diuretics and other medications, vomiting, diarrhea, infrequent urination, hypothyroidism and sweating. Liver, kidney and heart failure can lead to hyponatremia as well, and so can Addison’s disease.
Treatment and Prevention
If you develop hyponatremia, you will require medical attention. Your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition and may include receiving fluids intravenously or restricting the amount of water you drink. Talk to your doctor about how to prevent low sodium levels in the future, which may mean changing your diet or medications. If you are an athlete, she may suggest you drink an electrolyte solution after working out, instead of just water, which will both quench your thirst and rehydrate your body without depriving you of sodium and other essential minerals.
Additional Considerations
A dry mouth can be a sign of other medical conditions, such as dehydration. If you frequently have a dry mouth or suspect you have become dehydrated, seek medical attention, as this can also be a life-threatening condition. Also keep in mind that while some sodium is essential, too much can cause health problems as well, including high blood pressure. Most healthy adults should get no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, but your doctor can help you determine what amount is right for you.
