Sodium usually enters the body in the form of sodium chloride or salt. What causes hyponatremia? Your sodium levels may get too low if your body loses too much water and electrolytes. There are a lot of reasons your sodium level might get too low. Normal saline solution is usually used to prevent sudden elevation in the sodium levels, which is also detrimental for the patient. The serum concentration of sodium is from 125to 129 mEq/L. Initially correct the cause of hyponatremia by stopping the diuretics. What causes hyponatremia? Acute hyponatremia often involves a rapid reduction in the sodium concentration, which may potentially lead to coma because of a very fast physiologic change. If the level of sodium in the fluids outside the cells goes down, the fluids enter the cells causing the cells to swell. Consult medical providers to treat any conditions that may lead to hyponatremia. Hyponatremia—defined as a serum sodium concentration of less than 135 mEq/L—is a common and important electrolyte imbalance that can be seen in isolation or, as most often is the case, as a complication of other medical illnesses (eg, heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, pneumonia). As the extracellular fluid concentration of sodium decreases, the sodium concentration gradient between extracellular and intracellular fluid decreases. Hyponatremia can also be categorized based on the level of serum sodium such as: Mild cases of hyponatremia involves a serum sodium level of 130 to 134 mEq/L. Patients with severe hyponatremia need emergency measures to treat the electrolyte imbalance. It is important to ascertain the type of hyponatremia to guide treatment choices. Because of edema formation, there is a reduction in circulating blood volume, which stimulates the body to produce ADH. Hypokalemia should be checked since loop diuretics also excrete potassium in the urine. Classification of hyponatremia, according to onset, includes acute and chronic hyponatremia. When this happens, your body's water levels rise, and your cells beg… Patients with severe cases of hyponatremia have higher mortality rates due to heart blocks as a result of the decrease in excitability of the heart. Some patients may even be asymptomatic until they reach a significant reduction in the electrolyte level. Chronic hyponatremia on the other hand involves a gradual reduction in the serum sodium concentration making the signs and symptoms less noticeable. This "watering down" effect makes the amount of sodium seem low. Hyperglycemia is an increase in immunoglobulin levels or hyperlipidemia wherein there is fluid shifting from the intracellular to the extracellular space. Intravenous fluid administration is done for hypovolemic hyponatremia. Rates of hyponatremia are higher among people admitted to inpatient hospital care units or with the medical conditions mentioned above. Pseudohyponatremia is not true hyponatremia but a false result of the measurement of blood sodium levels usually caused by 1:. Differet types of hyponatremia develop depending on the cause and pathophysiological mechanisms. Pseudohyponatremia Definition and Causes. Hypervolemic hyponatremia results from excessive total blood volume as a result of edema. Sodium is the most common cat-ion (positively charged electrolyte) in the extracellular space in the body and accounts for almost 80 to 90% of the total sodium inside the body. Incidences are greater among the elderly, females and hospitalized clients. In general, too much water in your body is usually the main problem and this dilutes the sodium levels. Hyponatremia is often caused by conditions that significantly increase water in the body, resulting in a diluted blood concentration of sodium. Sodium is an electrolyte, and it helps regulate the amount of water that's in and around your cells.In hyponatremia, one or more factors — ranging from an underlying medical condition to drinking too much water — cause the sodium in your body to become diluted. Sodium replacement should be at a rate of 8 mmol/L in 24 hours. Where the underlying cause of hyponatremia is a medical condition or hormonal disorder, people will usually need further treatment. Hyponatremia may also be a … Management of hyponatremia also depends on the classification. Any of the following conditions can lead to hyponatremia: A diet that is low in sodium; Drinking too much water or receiving too much fluid through an IV; Intense and prolonged exercise that causes excessive sweating ; Medical conditions, such as … Sodium also dissolves easily in water, which is why it is abundant in bodies of water, the oceans, in the form of sodium chloride. Hyponatremia can be the result of illnesses and medications. Although a low serum sodium can also lead to volume depletion indirectly. The patient is also assessed for a complete medical history to determine any underlying cause. Your sodium levels may get too low if your body loses too much water and electrolytes. These are drugs that inhibit the action of vasopressin by blocking the receptor sites. Sodium being the most abundant cat-ion in the body causes hyponatremia to be the most common electrolyte imbalance. Hyponatremia can be prevented using the following measures: Hyponatremia – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Algorithm, Levels, Types, Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis – Low & High Causes, Symptoms, Seroma – Definition, Symptoms, Fluid, Treatment, Types, Degenerative Arthritis – Treatment, Causes, Symptoms, Types, Foraminal Stenosis – Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Gigantism – Pictures, What is?, Symptoms, Causes, Types, Adrenal Insufficiency (Primary & Secondary) – Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis, Severe pain which stimulates ADH production, Polydipsia (where the individual drinks up to 12 liters of water a day), Multiple myeloma (due to increase in immunoglobulins). Severe cases of electrolyte imbalance happens when the serum sodium level is less than 125 mEq/L. As in this case, the intracellular compartment has a higher sodium concentration so water tends to shift there. Sodium is an element known in Latin as natrium with a chemical symbol of Na. Hyponatremia happens when too much sodium leaves your body, or when more water than sodium stays in your blood. Differet types of hyponatremia develop depending on the cause and pathophysiological mechanisms. Examples of this drug are Conivaptan, Nelivaptan, Relcovaptan, Lixivapotan, Mozavaptan, Satavaptan, and Tolvaptan. Determination and management of the underlying cause is essential to permanently correct hyponatremia. Classification of hyponatremia, according to onset, includes acute and chronic hyponatremia. Cascade processes happen such that an increase in ADH leads to water retention and subsequent sodium reduction.