Q:
What is hyponatremia?
A:
Hyponatremia means low sodium level in the blood. Sodium is used to regulate the amount of water both in and around your cells. Therefore, if the concentration of sodium in your blood is low, the water level of your body will rise, and your cells will begin to swell. And this swelling can cause many other health problems.
Sodium plays an important role in maintaining you healthy body condition. To know what might cause hyponatermia is greatly helpful to prevent it from happening. Many possible factors and actions can lead to hyponatermia, including:
- Certain medications. Some medications, such as some water pills (diuretics), antidepressants and pain medications, can interfere with the normal hormonal and kidney processes that keep sodium concentrations within the healthy normal range.
- Heart, kidney and liver problems.
- Syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH).
- Chronic, severe vomiting or diarrhea and other causes of dehydration.
- Drinking too much water.
- Hormonal changes. Low levels of thyroid hormone can cause a low blood-sodium level.
- The recreational drug Ecstasy.
