Hyponatremia is the decrease in the amount of sodium in relation to water, which in the blood test is shown by values below 135 mEq / L. This change is dangerous, because the lower the level of sodium in the blood, the greater the severity of the symptoms, with cerebral edema, seizures and, in some cases, coma.
The decrease in sodium in the blood is more common in hospitalized patients and, therefore, they must have blood tests regularly. The treatment of hyponatremia is done by replacing the amount of sodium in the blood through the administration of serum, which should be prescribed by the doctor in the amount required according to each case.
Main causes
The decrease in the concentration of sodium in the blood results from any disease that causes the amount of water eliminated by the body to decrease, or when water is accumulated in greater amounts in the blood, so that the sodium is diluted.
Vasopressin is the hormone responsible for regulating the amount of water in the body, being released by the pituitary gland when there is low blood volume, low blood pressure or when there is a large amount of circulating sodium. However, in some situations the amount of vasopressin produced may be deregulated, resulting in hyponatremia. Thus, some of the main causes of hyponatremia are:
- Excess blood sugar, which occurs in diabetes; Vomiting or diarrhea, which cause both hyponatremia and hypernatremia; Diseases that accumulate fluid in the body, such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, severe hypothyroidism and chronic kidney failure; Diseases and situations that produce excess vasopressin; use of medications that can retain water, such as some anti-inflammatory drugs; Excessive physical exercise, such as marathons, which stimulates the body to produce anti-diuretic hormone, in addition to the consumption of more water; such as Ecstasy; excessive consumption of liquids, such as beer, teas, and even water.
Drinking too many fluids to the point of causing hyponatremia can happen in psychiatric situations, such as potomania, in which beer is drunk excessively, or psychogenic polydipsia, in which the person drinks more water than necessary.
For athletes, the ideal is not to overdo the amount of drink during exercise, as about 150 ml of water for every 1 hour of exercise is sufficient. If you feel more thirsty than this, you should drink another isotonic drink, such as Gatorade, which contains important minerals, maintaining blood control.
How to diagnose
The diagnosis of hyponatremia is made by measuring sodium in the blood, in which a concentration of less than 135 mEq / L is verified. Ideally, sodium values should be between 135 and 145 mEq / L.
The diagnosis of the cause is made by the doctor, who investigates changes from the clinical history and other blood tests, such as the assessment of kidney function, liver, blood glucose levels, and the concentration of blood and urine, which help determine the source of the change.
How the treatment is done
In order to treat hyponatremia, the doctor must identify the intensity of the symptoms, and whether it is an acute or chronic installation change. In severe acute hyponatremia, or when it causes symptoms, a replacement of serum with a greater amount of sodium is made, which is the hypertonic saline solution.
This replacement must be calculated carefully, according to the sodium need of each person and done slowly, as the sudden change in sodium levels or excess sodium, which is hypernatremia, can also be harmful to brain cells. Find out more about what causes and how to treat hypernatremia.
Chronic hyponatremia can also be treated with hypertonic saline or saline, and a quick correction is not necessary, as the body is already adapting to that condition. In mild situations, another option is to restrict the amount of water you drink in the day, which can make the blood have a better balance of water and salt.
Main symptoms
The signs and symptoms of hyponatremia are more severe as the amount of sodium decreases in the blood. Thus, there may be headache, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness, for example. When levels are too low, it is possible that there are seizures, muscle spasms and coma.
Hyponatremia that causes symptoms is considered a medical emergency and should be detected and treated as soon as possible.
