LOW SODIUM
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| Sodium-Ion |
Sodium is a light weighted metal. It is a strong basic metal and is present abundantly in our body fluids as a sodium ion.
It is a monovalent ion that can able to form a single electrovalent bond with a negatively charged monovalent ion such as chloride or bicarbonate ion.
In our body sodium is present in the extracellular fluids.
The normal blood sodium level is 130 to 140 Milli Equivalents per liter. If the blood sodium level goes below 120 Milli Equivalents the condition is known as Hyponatremia
Sodium helps cells to be activated. Low sodium cause the following symptoms:-
1.Tiredness, Vertigo, and Giddiness
2.Nausea and Vomiting
3.Headache due to the osmotic effects in between the brain cells.
Due to low sodium in the intercellular fluids, and hypotonicity more solvent is drawn into the cells which may become bulged and ruptured and damaged.
Due to brain and nerve cell damage, one can experience along with headache, confusion, loss of energy, drowsiness, and fatigue.
4. Restlessness and irritability.
5.Muscle weakness and cramps.
6. Damaged cells cause seizures and coma.
It is a monovalent ion that can able to form a single electrovalent bond with a negatively charged monovalent ion such as chloride or bicarbonate ion.
In our body sodium is present in the extracellular fluids.
The normal blood sodium level is 130 to 140 Milli Equivalents per liter. If the blood sodium level goes below 120 Milli Equivalents the condition is known as Hyponatremia
Sodium helps cells to be activated. Low sodium cause the following symptoms:-
1.Tiredness, Vertigo, and Giddiness
2.Nausea and Vomiting
3.Headache due to the osmotic effects in between the brain cells.
Due to low sodium in the intercellular fluids, and hypotonicity more solvent is drawn into the cells which may become bulged and ruptured and damaged.
Due to brain and nerve cell damage, one can experience along with headache, confusion, loss of energy, drowsiness, and fatigue.
4. Restlessness and irritability.
5.Muscle weakness and cramps.
6. Damaged cells cause seizures and coma.
Causes:-
Generally sodium is needed by our body to maintain normal body fluid balance, normal blood pressure, and to support the activities of nerves and muscles.
The following medications and lifestyle changes cause low sodium in our body:-
1. Long time use of diuretics (thiazide, loop diuretics), antidepressants, pain killers may cause low sodium.
2. Congestive heart failure and liver failure may cause more fluid accumulation in our body and can dilute sodium levels.
3 High Anti-Diuretic Hormone (SHAH). High-level secretion of Vasopressin an antidiuretic hormone from the posterior pituitary may cause more ion free water to be reabsorbed by the kidney which dilutes blood sodium.
4. Dehydration due to severe chronic diarrhea, vomiting, and summer weather may cause sodium loss.
5. Drinking more water also may cause low sodium due to the dilution of body sodium ion.
6.Hormonal Disturbances, such as insufficient adrenal gland activity (Addison's Disease), in which there are insufficient secretions of adrenal hormones such as aldosterone to maintain normal mineral balances
7. Low thyroid activity also can cause low sodium
8. Drug abuses such as amphetamine can cause a dangerous low sodium level.
Diagnosis
1.Blood Tests
2.Urine Tests
Treatments
1. If you are under medications such as diuretics and fluid intake then your doctor will advise you to adjust the diuretic dosage and cut back the fluid intake.
2.IV infusions of sodium fluids. Mostly a half normal saline (0.45% sodium chloride) can be used to raise the sodium level slowly in chronic hyponatremia.
The slow raising of sodium is very important as the rapid raising of sodium may cause brain damage.
3. To treat acute hyponatremia
4. If a person can tolerate oral fluids he can drink saltwater or any salt preparation if there is no emergency.
5. Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting can be treated with appropriate medicines
Cancer Marker
The following cancer incidence can be predicted by the low sodium from the time when it is diagnosed six months to one year time is for the occurrence of the following cancers.
1.Lungs
2.Liver
3.Brain
4.Pancreas
5.Kidney
6.Esophagus
7.Pharynx
8.Non-Hodkin lymphoma
