Sodium in Dehradun

What is a Sodium?

Sodium is the principal salt outside cells and it determines how much water the body holds and where that water sits. The single most useful thing to understand about a sodium result is that it is a concentration, not a quantity, so an abnormal value usually reflects a problem with water rather than with salt. A low sodium most often means too much water diluting a normal amount of salt, which is why the treatment is frequently to restrict fluid rather than to add salt, and why eating more salt can make matters worse. Causes include heart failure, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, diuretics, an underactive thyroid or adrenal glands, and a condition in which antidiuretic hormone is released inappropriately. Symptoms track how fast it fell rather than the absolute value: a gradual decline may cause only mild nausea and lethargy, while a rapid one causes confusion, drowsiness and seizures. A high sodium almost always means water depletion, from inadequate intake or excessive loss, and is most common in the elderly, in infants and in anyone unable to reach a glass of water.

Why take this test?

Sodium is advised for confusion, drowsiness, unexplained lethargy, headache, nausea, muscle cramps or seizures, particularly in an older adult where a low sodium is a frequent and reversible cause of confusion that is often attributed to something else. It is essential monitoring for anyone on diuretics, and in heart failure, liver cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease. It is checked in prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea, in dehydration and heat exhaustion, which matter in Dehradun through the summer, and in anyone on medicines known to lower sodium including some antidepressants and anti-epileptics. It is measured within an electrolyte panel alongside potassium and chloride, and usually with creatinine and urea, since kidney function determines handling. Correction of a very low sodium must be gradual and medically supervised, because raising it too quickly causes serious neurological harm, which is a further reason not to self-treat with salt.

• Confusion, drowsiness or unexplained lethargy, especially in older adults
• Headache, nausea, muscle cramps or seizures
• Taking diuretics, or medicines known to lower sodium
• Heart failure, liver cirrhosis or chronic kidney disease
• Prolonged vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration or heat exhaustion
• As part of an electrolyte and kidney function panel

Normal reference ranges

Ranges are indicative for adults. Your report carries the lab-specific reference range and is reviewed by a LabONE pathologist; always interpret results with your doctor.

FAQs: Sodium in Dehradun