Updated: 11/6/23
Life can throw us curveballs when we least expect it, and managing electrolyte imbalance due to hyponatremia is no exception. When one’s body becomes depleted of essential minerals like sodium and potassium, the results can be unpleasant to say the least. Thankfully, supplementing your diet with electrolytes or using treatments for hyponatremia have been proven to effectively manage an electrolyte imbalance. Not sure how exactly you should go about replenishing your system? Don’t worry—we’ve got all the details in this blog post on treating and managing hyponatremia through supplements & treatments!
What is Hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is a medical condition characterized by low levels of sodium in the blood. It is commonly seen in individuals who are undertaking long-distance endurance sports, such as marathons or triathlons. But this condition can happen to anyone, and it should not be ignored, as it can cause severe health consequences.
Hyponatremia is often caused by drinking too much water in a short period, which is known as water intoxication. When you drink water excessively, the balance of electrolytes in your bloodstream becomes diluted, which can lead to several complications.
Moreover, hyponatremia can also be caused by other underlying medical conditions, such as hormonal imbalances or kidney diseases. It can also be a side effect of certain medications.
Types of Hyponatremia
Physicians categorize hyponatremia into several types depending on the cause (x):
Hypovolemic hyponatremia
Hypovolemic hyponatremia refers to the condition where there is a decrease in both sodium and fluid levels in the body. This type of hyponatremia is by factors such as excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. People who engage in intense physical activities, such as long-distance runners, are more susceptible to hypovolemic hyponatremia. Treatment involves increasing fluid and salt intake, as well as addressing the underlying cause of the condition.
Hypervolemic Hyponatremia
One type of hyponatremia occurs when there is excess fluid in the blood – a condition known as hypervolemic hyponatremia. This type of hyponatremia can be by heart failure, kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis. Swollen feet and ankles, weight gain, and shortness of breath are commonly experienced symptoms of hypervolemic hyponatremia.
Eurvoletic Hyponatremia
Eurvoletic hyponatremia, as the name suggests, is caused by excessive fluid retention in the body. This type of hyponatremia is commonly observed in people with heart, kidney, or liver diseases. In addition, some medications such as diuretics and antidepressants can lead to this type of electrolyte imbalance. Treatment involves identifying and treating the underlying cause of the condition, as well as restricting fluid intake.
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)
SIADH is a condition where excessive levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) are released in the body, resulting in an electrolyte imbalance. The ADH hormone regulates the amount of water reabsorbed by the kidneys, and when there is excessive ADH, the kidneys retain water, leading to hyponatremia. SIADH is common in people with lung diseases, brain tumors, and some medications such as chemotherapy. Treatment options include addressing the underlying cause and limiting fluid intake.
Pseudohyponatremia
Pseudohyponatremia is a condition where the measured sodium level in the blood is low but is a result of high levels of other substances in the blood, such as cholesterol or triglycerides. This type of hyponatremia is mainly observed in people with diabetes. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause of the condition, such as controlling blood glucose levels, and monitoring sodium levels in the blood.
Dilutional Hyponatremia
Dilutional hyponatremia occurs due to an excess of water in the body. In cases such as marathon runners who drink too much water, the consequence is dilutional hyponatremia. When the body saturates with excess hydration, it leads to a lower concentration of electrolytes, including sodium, in the bloodstream. This dilution of sodium increases the risk of brain cell swelling, seizures, coma, or even death. Some of the symptoms that might signal dilutional hyponatremia include headache, nausea, confusion, and seizures.
Hyposmolar Hyponatremia
Hyposmolar hyponatremia occurs when the total amount of body water increases while the sodium concentration in plasma decreases. In this condition, a patient will exhibit symptoms of hyponatremia and hypotonicity. Causes of hyposmolar hyponatremia include hormonal imbalances, kidney disease, liver disease, heart failure, and certain medications, among others. Symptoms of hyposmolar hyponatremia include headache, nausea, dizziness, and confusion.
Hyponatremia Symptoms
Hyponatremia symptoms may vary from mild to severe depending on the level of swelling and fluid retention (x). Common symptoms of low blood sodium include:
Complications from Hyponatremia
Osteoporosis
Hyponatremia can also lead to osteoporosis, which increases the risk of bone fractures. One study showed that the possibility of developing osteoporosis may be significantly greater among adults with mild hyponatremia than those without it.
Brain Damage
Severe cases may be a medical emergency and may cause coma, seizures, cardiopulmonary arrest, loss of consciousness and even death. It can also cause a condition called cerebral edema, swelling in the brain that can cause brain damage because it puts pressure on the brain and the skull. Cerebral edema only happens in severe cases of hyponatremia. Difficulty concentrating, confusion, irritability, memory problems, seizures, difficulty speaking and mood swings are all signs of cerebral edema.
Muscle Function
Hyponatremia can also affect muscle functioning leading to muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. This happens because sodium plays a crucial role in muscle contraction and relaxation. Low sodium levels can disturb the balance of electrolytes needed for proper muscle function, leading to muscle pain. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor and balance your sodium and electrolyte levels regularly.
Renal Function
Hyponatremia can also affect your kidneys’ function, leading to impaired water excretion. This can result in retaining more fluids in your body, causing conditions such as edema, ascites, and pleural effusion. Likewise, hyponatremia can also cause kidney damage, reducing your kidneys’ ability to function optimally. In severe cases, this could lead to kidney failure.
Heart Function
Hyponatremia can also affect heart function, leading to cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats. Sodium plays a crucial role in maintaining the electrical activity of the heart. Low sodium levels can interfere with these electrical signals and affect the heart’s rhythm, putting you at a higher risk of a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest.
Which Organ is Most Affected by Hyponatremia?
The organ that is most affected by hyponatremia is the brain. As sodium declines in the blood, water moves into the cells to balance the concentration of salt on both sides of the cell membrane. When too much water enters the brain cells, they begin to swell, and in severe cases, it can cause the brain to push against the skull, leading to a condition known as cerebral edema.
Cerebral edema is a life-threatening condition that can cause permanent brain damage or even death. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical attention if you suspect that you or someone you know has developed hyponatremia.
Can Hyponatremia Cause Seizures?
Sodium plays a crucial role in regulating the transmission of electrical impulses between neurons in the brain. Hyponatremia can cause the brain cells to swell, making it difficult for chemical messages to pass between neurons due to the sudden change in cell volume. As a result, the brain’s normal functions, like balance, coordination, and memory get disrupted, leading to seizures.
Can Hyponatremia Cause Permanent Brain Damage?
The brain depends on a delicate balance of electrolytes, including sodium, to function properly. When there is a shortage of sodium in the bloodstream, it can cause the brain cells to swell, leading to a condition called cerebral edema. This swelling can lead to a variety of symptoms, including seizures, headaches, and confusion. If left untreated, cerebral edema can cause permanent brain damage.
Causes of Hyponatremia
Drinking Too Much Water
One of the most common causes of hyponatremia is drinking too much water. This can happen when you engage in endurance activities like marathons where you may drink more water than your body can effectively excrete. This can lead to a dilution of the body’s sodium levels, which can be dangerous. Drinking a moderate amount of water is important, but overhydration can lead to health issues.
Medications
Certain medications such as diuretics, antidepressants, and painkillers can also cause hyponatremia. These drugs can alter the body’s ability to handle sodium, making it more likely for hyponatremia to occur. If you are taking any of these medications, it’s best to talk to your doctor about the risk of hyponatremia and steps that can be taken to prevent it.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hyponatremia can also be by hormonal imbalances. These include conditions such as adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. For example, Addison’s disease is a hormonal disorder that develops if the kidneys do not produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. These conditions can affect the body’s ability to regulate water and sodium levels, leading to hyponatremia.
Kidney Problems
Issues with the kidneys can also cause hyponatremia. This can happen when the kidneys are not able to excrete excess water effectively. In certain conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease, this can lead to hyponatremia. Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure can also cause hyponatremia due to the kidneys losing their ability to regulate the body’s fluids and sodium levels.
Dehydration
Dehydration can also lead to hyponatremia. This can be by an illness that leads to excessive sweating or diarrhea, both of which can result in a loss of fluids and electrolytes like sodium. If left untreated, dehydration can cause hyponatremia as it lowers the level of water in the body and increases sodium concentrations.
Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Alcohol is known to interfere with the kidneys’ ability to regulate the body’s fluids. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to an increase in urine output, which can cause a drop in sodium levels in the blood. This is why it is important to consume alcohol in moderation.
Risk Factors for Hyponatremia
Some factors may not directly cause the condition, but they can increase a patient’s risk for hyponatremia. These factors include:
Drugs and Medications
There are certain medications that increase the risk of hyponatremia including antidepressants, pain medications and diuretics. These medications can interfere with normal hormonal kidney processes that maintain healthy sodium concentrations. Research also connects the condition to recreational drug use with ecstasy and other amphetamines.
Intense Physical Activity
Regularly engaging in intense and vigorous physical activities like marathons, triathlons or ultra marathons tends to lose large amounts of body fluids through sweat. Losing body fluid can cause the individual to drink too much water to compensate for the water they lose, which can increase the risk for hyponatremia.
Heart, Liver & Kidney Problems
Diseases that affect the kidneys and the liver and congestive heart failure can cause fluid buildup in the body. These fluids may dilute sodium in the blood, lowering sodium levels.
Diagnosing Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Patients who experience any symptoms should seek medical care, as they may require urgent medical treatment. To diagnose low blood sodium levels, a doctor may ask about the patient’s medical history, health conditions and medications they take. The doctor may also carry out a physical exam and order a blood test. Blood tests can assess blood concentration, urine content and the amount of fluids in the body. If the blood tests indicate low sodium levels, the doctor may perform additional tests to determine the cause.
Hyponatremia Treatment
There are multiple treatments for hyponatremia depending on the underlying cause.
Changing Your Fluid Intake
The first step in treating hyponatremia is to change your fluid intake. This means reducing your water intake and increasing your sodium intake. Reducing your water intake will help to prevent dilution of your blood, which contributes to the development of hyponatremia.
Balance Medication
Sometimes, hyponatremia can be by medications. Medications such as diuretics, antidepressants, and painkillers can affect the sodium level in your bloodstream. Therefore, you need to balance and monitor your medication intake regularly that could help you prevent hyponatremia.
Treat Underlying Causes
Hyponatremia can also be by underlying health conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, and heart failure. Treating these underlying health conditions is essential in managing hyponatremia. Lab tests and medical check-up must be done to identify specific therapeutic interventions that should be done.
Electrolyte Supplement
Sodium is an essential electrolyte, and having a quick fix in mild hyponatremia cases is electrolyte supplementation. An electrolyte supplement containing an adequate amount of sodium could help restore the balance of electrolytes inside your body.
Hospitalization
If hyponatremia is severe enough to cause symptoms such as seizures, confusion, or coma, hospitalization is necessary. During your stay in the hospital, sodium-rich intravenous fluid (IV saline) is administered gradually by a health professional. It’s important to address the condition early on as there are higher mortality rates with the correction of chronic hyponatremia.
Hyponatremia and Heart Failure
Hyponatremia is a common complication in people with heart failure because of the changes in the body’s fluid balance. Heart failure can cause the body to hold onto water, leading to dilution of sodium levels in the blood. This disruption in sodium levels can affect the functioning of the heart and other organs, leading to various complications such as seizures, coma, and even death.
If left untreated, hyponatremia can be life-threatening. Therefore, it’s crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience any symptoms. The treatment of hyponatremia depends on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause. Treatment options may include fluid restriction, medications to increase urine output, or medications that help reduce water retention.
Supplements for Hyponatremia
Vitamin C/Sodium Ascorbate
Vitamin C is a very common tool to strengthen the immune system. Another name for vitamin C is sodium ascorbate. It can help treat and protect the body from illness, such as colds and flu. It also helps produce collagen, which keeps the skin and joints healthy. Taking vitamin C can help strengthen bones which may become damaged with chronic hyponatremia. It is also an antioxidant that helps with overall immune health. As a dietary supplement take 2,100 mg of sodium ascorbate powder once a day with meals, or as a physician instructs.
Sodium Ascorbate
Sodium ascorbate is a form of Vitamin C that has common use as a dietary supplement. It is famous for its antioxidant properties and its ability to improve the immune system. However, not many people know that sodium ascorbate can also help with hyponatremia. Unlike other supplements that take time to be absorbed and metabolized, sodium ascorbate is readily available for the body to use. This means that it can quickly help increase sodium levels in the body, providing immediate relief for those with hyponatremia.
Magnesium Supplements
Magnesium is a mineral that’s essential for normal body function. It helps regulate nerve and muscle function, and it’s also important for bone health. Taking magnesium supplements can help raise your sodium levels by promoting healthy kidney function. It’s important to note that magnesium should not be taken in high doses, as it can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.
Salt Tablets
One of the easiest and most well-known ways to increase sodium levels is by taking salt tablets. These tablets use by athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to replenish sodium lost during exercise. They come in different strengths and taken them with water to help regulate your sodium levels.
Electrolyte Drinks
If you’re looking for a more convenient way to get more sodium in your system, electrolyte drinks might be the way to go. These drinks are specially designed to replace lost electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Apart from helping increase sodium levels, they can also help you maintain hydration during exercise.
Bottom Line
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte imbalance that results in low sodium levels in the body in proportion to water levels. Symptoms of hyponatremia include vomiting, nausea, weakness, headaches, confusion and fatigue. In severe cases, patients may suffer complications like seizures, coma and brain damage from swelling. Treatments for hyponatremia aim to raise sodium levels in the blood. Patients may manage their fluid intake, take electrolytes and attempt to balance hormone levels. However, if the condition is a result of an underlying health condition such as heart, liver or kidney problems, the patient may require additional treatment for that underlying condition.
Maintaining the right balance of sodium in your body is crucial for normal function. Hyponatremia can lead to several complications, but there are many ways you can manage it with supplements. Salt tablets, sodium ascorbate, magnesium supplements, sports drinks, and diet changes are just a few of the options available. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any supplements and to always be aware of the possible side effects. With the right approach, you can keep your sodium levels in check and improve your overall health and well-being. Evidently, supplements are not a cure for hyponatremia or any other medical condition. Instead, they aim to improve overall health. Always consult a doctor before adding supplements to a health regimen and follow a physician’s instructions.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
