In this changing lifestyle, due to carelessness in food and lack of time, people have to face many types of health problems. Many times people struggle with such a problem, about which they have hardly heard before. One of those problems is hyponatremia. This problem can happen to anyone. In such a situation, it is necessary to know about the causes of hyponatremia and the treatment of hyponatremia, the information of which is present here.
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First of all, what is hyponatremia?
What is Hyponatremia?
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A low level of sodium in the blood is medically called hyponatremia. Sodium is mostly found in body fluids outside cells, Sodium is an electrolyte i.e. mineral, which is considered very important for maintaining blood pressure.
Sodium is also needed for the proper functioning of nerves, muscles, and other body tissues, When the sodium content in the fluids outside the cells falls below normal, water moves into the cells to balance the level. Too much water causes cells to swell, especially affecting brain cells.
The research, published on the website of the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), defines hyponatremia as hyponatremia when sodium content in the body is less than <135 meq/l. Yes, in some cases this quantity may vary.
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After what is hyponatremia, we will know the causes of hyponatremia.
Causes of Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia causes problems related to sodium in the body. Actually, in the problem of hyponatremia, the level of sodium in the body decreases. Let us now know what causes hyponatremia.
- Diarrhea problem
- Excessive urination and loss of sodium through the urine due to the use of diuretics
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Liver cirrhosis
- Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
- Sweating
- Vomiting
Know the symptoms now
Know more about the symptoms of hyponatremia.
Symptoms of Hyponatremia
The symptoms of hyponatremia can be many, which we are talking about below:
- Symptoms such as confusion, irritability, restlessness may appear in a person suffering from hyponatremia.
- Fainting can also occur in hyponatremia.
- You may feel tired.
- Symptoms of hyponatremia include headache.
- There may be a feeling of loss of appetite.
- There may be complaints of muscle weakness or cramps.
- Nausea or vomiting may also occur.
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After the symptoms of hyponatremia, now it is time to know its risk factors.
Risk Factors for Hyponatremia
The risk factors for hyponatremia are many, which we are going to talk about below.
- The ability to expel water decreases with age, which can increase the risk of hyponatremia.
- Chronic diseases can also become a risk factor for hyponatremia.
- Low body weight can also be considered a risk factor for hyponatremia.
- Low sodium intake in the diet can also increase the risk of hyponatremia.
- Certain types of medications can also increase the risk of hyponatremia.
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Learn how hyponatremia can be diagnosed now.
Diagnosis of Hyponatremia
To diagnose hyponatremia, the doctor may ask the following questions and may also recommend special tests.
- First, the health provider may do a physical test. During this, you may be asked about physical symptoms and other diseases.
- Blood and urine tests may be advised to detect hyponatremia.
- Some may ask for lab tests such as a comprehensive metabolic panel, osmolality blood test, urine osmolality.
- May recommend a urine sodium test.
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After diagnosis, now know the treatment of hyponatremia.
Treatment of Hyponatremia
Doctors can treat hyponatremia by making some lifestyle changes or with the help of medicines, which can be different for each person. Let us know below how hyponatremia is treated:
- First, the doctor will diagnose and treat the cause of low sodium in the body.
- If the cause of this condition is cancer, attempts can be made to correct the sodium imbalance by using radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery to remove the tumor.
- The doctor may give fluids through a vein.
- Health providers may also prescribe certain medicines to treat hyponatremia.
- Can be advised to keep drinking the required amount of water.
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Let us know in the last part of the article what are measures to avoid hyponatremia.
Ways to avoid hyponatremia
After describing the treatment of hyponatremia, here we are telling the ways to avoid hyponatremia.
- The most important way to prevent hyponatremia is to treat the condition causing low sodium levels.
- If playing sports or participating in any other physical activity, drink fluids that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks, to keep the body’s sodium levels balanced.
- If you are taking any medications that can lower sodium levels, contact your doctor immediately.
- If symptoms of hyponatremia are visible, seek medical attention immediately without delay.
Do not ignore hyponatremia lightly, as it can cause serious problems. The article describes the treatment of hyponatremia, by adopting which this problem can be relieved to a great extent. However, after recognizing the symptoms of hyponatremia, contact the doctor immediately. This will help in understanding the cause of hyponatremia and providing accurate treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions –
When the sodium level of the body drops too much, it can prove to be a life-threatening condition. If the sodium level is low, contact the doctor immediately without delay. For this, look for the symptoms of hyponatremia such as confusion, fainting, restlessness, loss of appetite, fatigue, etc.
Yes, hyponatremia can be cured by balancing the sodium levels in the body. In such a situation, as soon as the symptoms of hyponatremia appear, get treatment at the right time.
In hyponatremia, the amount of sodium in the fluid outside the cells is lower than normal, which water moves into the cells to balance it. This causes the cells to swell. In such a situation, especially the brain cells become sensitive to inflammation.
