Table of Contents
- 1 Which organ is most affected by hyponatremia?
- 2 What happens if sodium is low in old age?
- 3 How do doctors treat someone with severe symptoms of hyponatremia?
- 4 Can low sodium cause stomach pain?
- 5 Which of the following are causes of hyponatremia in older adults?
- 6 Will eating salt help hyponatremia?
- 7 What is the most common cause of hyponatremia?
- 8 Can hyponatremia cause bloating?
- 9 Do you have to stay in the hospital for hyponatremia?
- 10 Can drinking too much water cause hyponatremia?
Which organ is most affected by hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia occurs when your blood sodium level goes below 135 mEq/L. When the sodium level in your blood is too low, extra water goes into your cells and makes them swell. This swelling can be dangerous especially in the brain, since the brain cannot expand past the skull.
What happens if sodium is low in old age?
Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia can include altered personality, lethargy and confusion. Severe hyponatremia can cause seizures, coma and even death.
How do doctors treat someone with severe symptoms of hyponatremia?
If you have severe, acute hyponatremia, you’ll need more-aggressive treatment. Options include: Intravenous fluids. Your doctor may recommend IV sodium solution to slowly raise the sodium levels in your blood.
Can a person recover from low sodium levels?
Hyponatremia can result from multiple diseases that often are affecting the lungs, liver or brain, heart problems like congestive heart failure, or medications. Most people recover fully with their doctor’s help.
How long does it take to recover from low sodium?
Generally, low sodium is asymptomatic (does not produce symptoms), when it is mild or related to your diet. It can take weeks or months for you to experience the effects of low salt in your diet—and these effects can be corrected by just one day of normal salt intake.
Can low sodium cause stomach pain?
You may experience low sodium symptoms daily or just once in a while. At times any of these low sodium symptoms can be severe: Abdominal pain or cramping. Bloating.
Which of the following are causes of hyponatremia in older adults?
Hyponatremia in elderly subjects is mainly caused by drugs (more frequently thiazides and antidepressants), the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIAD) or endocrinopathies; however, hyponatremia is multifactorial in a significant proportion of patients.
Will eating salt help hyponatremia?
In elderly patients with a diet poor in protein and sodium, hyponatremia may be worsened by their low solute intake. The kidney’s need to excrete solutes aids in water excretion. An increase in dietary protein and salt can help improve water excretion.
How do elderly increase sodium levels?
How to Increase Sodium Levels in Elderly People
- Adjust or change medications.
- Cut back on water and fluid consumption.
- Seek treatment for underlying conditions or diseases.
- Eat foods that are high in sodium.
- Increase dietary protein to aid in water excretion.
- Infusing an intravenous sodium solution.
What are the complications of hyponatremia?
Complications related to hyponatremia include rhabdomyolysis, seizures, permanent neurologic sequelae related to ongoing seizures or cerebral edema, respiratory arrest, and death.
What is the most common cause of hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is decrease in serum sodium concentration < 136 mEq/L (< 136 mmol/L) caused by an excess of water relative to solute. Common causes include diuretic use, diarrhea, heart failure, liver disease, renal disease, and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).
Can hyponatremia cause bloating?
Common symptoms of low sodium You may experience low sodium symptoms daily or just once in a while. At times any of these low sodium symptoms can be severe: Abdominal pain or cramping. Bloating.
Do you have to stay in the hospital for hyponatremia?
You may need to stay in the hospital and have: IV infusion with a sodium solution to slowly raise levels in your blood over a few days If you get hyponatremia often (chronic hyponatremia), your sodium levels are likely to drop very slowly over a few days and you’re less likely to have complications.
What is low blood sodium (hyponatremia)?
How is it treated? Low blood sodium (hyponatremia) occurs when you have an abnormally low amount of sodium in your blood or when you have too much water in your blood. Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities.
Are older adults more likely to get hyponatremia?
Since older adults are usually more likely to take certain medications or develop chronic diseases, they’re generally more likely to get hyponatremia. But at any age, you’re more likely to get it if you have a condition like kidney disease, SIADH, or heart failure. It can also happen if you take the drugs that make the condition more likely.
Can drinking too much water cause hyponatremia?
If you drink too much water when you do something that’s physically very hard — like a marathon — you may be more likely to develop hyponatremia. Because the symptoms of hyponatremia can vary so much from person to person, your doctor will probably order blood and urine test s to confirm the diagnosis.