The first sign is intense thirst. Low water content in the blood means you're dehydrated, and drinking water alleviates the thirst and may help sodium levels return to normal. In addition to thirst, you might also experience fatigue and nausea, which may also be alleviated with rehydration.
Confusion is also an early sign of hypernatremia, and if it occurs in someone who is elderly or sick, it may help alert caretakers.
Too much sodium in the blood can be dangerous, and even deadly. Low levels of water in the blood also means low levels of water in your cells, leading to cell shrinkage. This can be especially dangerous when it affects the cells in your brain, leading to seizures, coma or a brain hemorrhage. This swelling can cause many health problems, from mild to life-threatening. Hyponatremia treatment is aimed at resolving the underlying condition.
Depending on the cause of hyponatremia, you may simply need to cut back on how much you drink. In other cases of hyponatremia, you may need intravenous electrolyte solutions and medications. Seek emergency care for anyone who develops severe signs and symptoms of hyponatremia, such as nausea and vomiting, confusion, seizures, or lost consciousness. Call your doctor if you know you are at risk of hyponatremia and are experiencing nausea, headaches, cramping or weakness.
Depending on the extent and duration of these signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend seeking immediate medical care. Sodium plays a key role in your body. It helps maintain normal blood pressure, supports the work of your nerves and muscles, and regulates your body's fluid balance. In chronic hyponatremia, sodium levels drop gradually over 48 hours or longer — and symptoms and complications are typically more moderate.
In advanced cases, a person may experience muscle twitching or spasms, as sodium is important for the function of muscles and nerves. With severe elevations of sodium, seizures and coma may occur. Certain people are more likely than others to develop hypernatremia. At-risk populations include :. If the doctor suspects hypernatremia, they may run blood or urine tests. Both tests can show an increased presence of sodium in the blood, which can indicate hypernatremia.
All treatment for hypernatremia involves correcting the fluid and sodium balance in the body. Doing this usually means treating the underlying condition that is causing the increased blood sodium levels. The type of treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause.
For example, if a person is finding it difficult to manage their diabetes, their doctor will likely recommend steps to get the condition under control.
In mild cases, increasing water consumption can help restore the proper balance of sodium in the blood. In more severe cases, a person may need IV fluids to help restore proper sodium levels. They may also require a doctor to monitor whether their sodium levels are improving and adjust the fluid concentration accordingly.
One of the most dangerous complications is a brain hemorrhage, which can occur due to veins rupturing in the brain. If a person has unexplained fatigue, irritability, or other mood changes, they should talk to their doctor, as these may be symptoms of hypernatremia. Often, a person will not realize that they have the condition until their doctor examines them or runs a blood or urine test. When a doctor diagnoses and treats hypernatremia early, the outlook for people with this condition is generally good.
People usually recover with minimal intervention. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Function Symptoms Risk factors Diagnosis Treatment Outlook Overview Hypernatremia is the medical term used to describe having too much sodium in the blood. How are sodium levels controlled? Risk factors. Read this next.
How to Prevent an Electrolyte Imbalance. Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R. Recognizing a Dehydration Headache. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD. Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M.
What to Know About Dehydration. Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN. Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD.
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