Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance that occurs when blood levels of sodium(siodine) in the blood is lower than normal. Abnormal sodium levels can be caused by many things, from health conditions to the use of certain medications.
In our bodies, sodium has many functions, including controlling water levels in the body, maintaining blood pressure, and regulating the nervous system and muscle performance.
In hyponatremia, the sodium level in the blood is less than it should be. This causes the water content in the body to increase and makes the body's cells swell. Swelling of these cells can cause various health problems, ranging from headaches to decreased consciousness.
Causes of Hyponatremia
Under normal conditions, sodium levels in the blood are 135–145 mEq/liter (milliequivalents per liter). A person with a sodium level of less than 135 mEq/liter is considered hyponatremic. This decrease in sodium levels can be caused by various factors, including:
- Hormonal changesLack of adrenal hormones, for example due to suffering from Addison's disease, can affect the balance of water, sodium, and potassium levels in the body. Low thyroid hormone levels can also cause hyponatremia.
- Syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone(SIADH)
This condition produces anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) in large amounts, which makes the body retain water that should be excreted in the urine. Excess water in the body will dissolve sodium and make its levels decrease.
- Severe and chronic diarrhea or vomiting
This condition can cause the body to lose sodium and increase the production of ADH.
- Ocertain drugs
Medications, such as diuretics, antidepressants, and pain medications, can interfere with hormone or kidney function in maintaining sodium levels.
- Health condition
Heart failure, kidney disease, and cirrhosis, can cause fluid buildup in the body and dissolve sodium, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood.
- DRUGS
Amphetamines, such as ecstasy, can cause severe hyponatremia.
Risk Factors for Hyponatremia
The following are some factors that can increase a person's risk of developing hyponatremia:
- Consuming too much water when exercising is quite strenuous and sweating a lot, such as a marathon or doing the wrong water therapy
- Old age and has difficulty communicating
- Taking diuretics (eg due to heart failure) or antidepressants (eg due to major depression)
- Rarely consume foods or drinks that contain sodium
Symptoms of Hyponatremia
Symptoms of hyponatremia can be different for each patient. When sodium levels in the body decrease gradually (over 2 days or more), the patient may not experience any symptoms. This condition is known as chronic hyponatremia.
However, if sodium levels drop rapidly (acute hyponatremia), symptoms can be serious. Some of the common symptoms experienced by people with acute hyponatremia include:
- Headache
- daze
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weak and tired
- Cramps or muscle weakness
- Restless and irritable
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
When to go to the doctor
Seek immediate medical attention to the nearest doctor or emergency room if you experience serious symptoms of hyponatremia, such as vomiting, confusion, seizures, and decreased consciousness.
Check with your doctor if you have any factors that can increase your risk of hyponatremia, especially if you are already experiencing symptoms of nausea, headaches, cramps, or weakness.
Diagnosis of Hyponatremia
The diagnosis of hyponatremia begins with a question and answer session regarding the patient's symptoms and medical history, which is then followed by a thorough physical examination.
After the question-and-answer session and physical examination are completed, the doctor will carry out a supporting examination in the form of a blood test that functions to measure electrolyte and mineral levels in the body, including sodium levels.
If a blood test is found to have abnormal levels of sodium in the patient's blood, the doctor will re-examine the sodium level with a urine test. The results of the urine test will help the doctor to confirm the condition and determine the cause of the hyponatremia.
If the sodium level in the blood is low but high in the urine, it means that the patient's body is excreting too much sodium. However, if the sodium levels in the blood and urine are both low, it can indicate that the patient's body is not getting enough sodium intake or the patient's body is excess fluid.
Hyponatremia Treatment
Treatment of hyponatremia is tailored to the severity and cause. In mild hyponatremia, treatment can be done by improving diet, lifestyle, and adjusting the type and dose of drugs used. The doctor will also ask the patient to temporarily reduce fluid intake.
Meanwhile, for hyponatremia that occurs quickly and causes severe symptoms, treatment that can be done includes:
- Giving drugs that aim to overcome the symptoms of headaches, nausea, and seizures
- Giving electrolyte fluids through an IV, to slowly increase sodium levels in the blood
- Dialysis, to remove excess fluid from the body, if hyponatremia occurs because the kidneys cannot function properly
Complications of Hyponatremia
In chronic hyponatremia, complications that can arise are not emergency, but still cannot be underestimated. These complications include reduced concentration, the body becomes unbalanced, and osteoporosis.
Meanwhile, in acute hyponatremia, complications that can arise tend to be more dangerous, namely brain swelling that can lead to coma and even death. Although it can be experienced by all people with acute hyponatremia, this complication is more common in women approaching menopause.
preventionn Hyponatremia
There are several ways that can be done to prevent hyponatremia, namely:
- Treat conditions that can trigger hyponatremia.
- Drink drinks that can replace the body's electrolytes that are lost during activities or sports.
- Drink enough water, which is about 2.2 liters/day for women and 3 liters/day for men.
Adequacy of water consumption can be known by paying attention to the color of urine. A more concentrated urine color (orange or dark yellow) indicates that the body is still deprived of water.