Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Get medical attention for low sodium symptoms
• Method 2 of 3: Treat low sodium in your blood
• Method 3 of 3: Balance your fluid intake and secretion
• Tips

Sodium is a so-called electrolyte that is necessary for your body. It helps control your blood pressure and allows your muscles and nerve cells to function. Low sodium, also called hyponatraemia, means that the sodium level in your blood is below 135 mmol / l on a standard metabolic panel. Common causes of a sodium deficiency are burns, diarrhea, excessive sweating, vomiting and certain medications that require you to urinate more than usual, such as diuretics. If not treated properly, low sodium levels in your blood can lead to muscle weakness, headaches, hallucinations and, in the worst case, even death. Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms that indicate low sodium in your blood, or if symptoms are severe, go to the emergency room. To get the sodium level in your blood back to normal, your doctor will probably ask you to change the medications you are taking or treat any other underlying problems.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Get medical attention for low sodium symptoms

1. Watch for low sodium symptoms if you have an illness that increases the risk of sodium deficiency. If you have been diagnosed with a certain condition, you are more likely to have low sodium. This means that you have to be extra careful and always pay attention to whether you have certain symptoms. Conditions that increase the risk of low sodium in your blood include:
   • Kidney disease, heart disease and liver cirrhosis
   • Old age, for example being over 65
   • Regularly performing very large physical efforts, such as triathlons, marathons and ultramarathons
   • Taking certain medicines, such as antidepressants, diuretics (diuretics, or medicines for high blood pressure), and certain pain relievers
2. If you notice low sodium symptoms, talk to your doctor. Mild or moderate low sodium is usually not serious, but it is important to keep an eye on the symptoms if you know that you are at greater risk of sodium deficiency. Just keep in mind that the symptoms of low sodium could also be symptoms of another medical condition. See your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following symptoms:
   • Nausea
   • Headache
   • Cramp
   • Slack
3. Get medical attention as soon as possible if you experience severe symptoms of sodium deficiency. Low sodium levels in your body can be harmful to you, especially if it is severe, and if left untreated, sodium deficiency can even have fatal consequences. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
   • Nausea and vomiting
   • Confusion
   • Seizures
   • Loss of consciousness
4. Have the sodium level in your blood tested if you think it may be too low. If you have symptoms that indicate low sodium or otherwise feel that you may have a sodium deficiency, see your doctor. The only way to determine if you really have too little sodium in your blood is to have a blood or urine test done.
   • Low sodium in your blood can be a serious condition, so it is important that you receive immediate treatment if you think you may be dealing with this problem.

Method 2 of 3: Treat low sodium in your blood

1. Stop taking your medications if your doctor recommends it. There are different types of drugs that lower the sodium level in your blood, and sometimes you can solve the problem simply by stopping those drugs. Tell your doctor what medications you take, whether prescription or not, and if you ever use illegal drugs. Some drugs that often cause hyponatraemia are:
   • Thiazide diuretics
   • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
   • Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
   • Chlorpromazine
   • Indapamide (including Natrixam)
   • Theophylline
   • Amiodarone (Cordarone)
   • MDMA (ecstasy)
2. Treat any underlying conditions that can cause sodium deficiency. If low sodium in your case is due to another condition, that condition should be treated. You can often increase your sodium levels by treating the underlying problem. You only need medication if that condition cannot be treated. Conditions that can lower the sodium in your blood include:
   • Kidney disorders
   • Heart ailments
   • Cirrhosis of the liver
   • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
   • Hypothyroidism
   • Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar or diabetes)
   • Severe burns
   • Gastrointestinal disorders can lead to vomiting and diarrhea
3. Inquire about low sodium medications. If your low sodium level does not improve with the help of other treatment options or if there are no other options, your doctor can prescribe a drug that will increase the sodium level in your blood. Use it exactly as prescribed and do not take more than the recommended dose.
   • Tolvaptan (Samsca) is a common medicine used to treat low sodium levels. Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking and follow your doctor's advice regarding continued use of those medications. If you are taking Tolvaptan, consult a nephrologist so that you do not increase the sodium level in your blood too much.
4. If you have very low sodium levels, ask if they can give you an intravenous fluid using an IV. Administration of an intravenous isotonic saline solution may be necessary if a person goes into shock from severe exhaustion caused by a sodium deficiency. This could be an acute or severe case of low sodium. It is usually possible to restore the balance by administering an intravenous fluid via an IV, but usually the patient must also be hospitalized in such a case.
   • Sepsis, also known as sepsis, can seriously lower the sodium level in your blood.

Method 3 of 3: Balance your fluid intake and secretion

1. If your doctor recommends it, do not drink more than 1 to 1.5 liters per day. Drinking too much water can dilute the sodium in your bloodstream, lowering your sodium levels. Sometimes you can increase the sodium level in your blood by drinking less. Just check with your doctor before doing this.
   • The advice to drink less water is usually only given that you have a sodium deficiency as a result of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIADH).
   • To know if you drink enough, pay attention to the color of your pee and how thirsty you are. If your urine looks pale yellow and you are not thirsty, then you are well hydrated.
2. Drink sports drinks when you are very active. If you are an athlete or someone who is very active and sweats a lot, it can be helpful to drink sports drinks to keep your sodium levels up. Drinking isotonic sports drinks can replenish the amount of sodium electrolytes lost in your bloodstream. Drink a sports drink before, during or after your workout.
   • Sports drinks contain necessary electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium.
3. Do not take diuretics or diuretics unless your doctor prescribes them. Do not use diuretics unless your doctor has given you a prescription for another medical condition. Diuretics are also known as "water pills" because they prevent your body from retaining water, so you have to urinate a lot. Moisturizing drugs on their own can also cause you to dry out.
   • So-called thiazide diuretics are known to lower the sodium level in your blood.

Tips

• Follow the advice of your doctor regarding your salt consumption. Don't suddenly eat more salt to try to increase the sodium level in your blood.