“What should be done when one's sodium levels suddenly drop? ”
The other day my mother was nauseous and confused. She had a severe headache as well, so my sister and I immediately took her to the hospital because we didn't know what was wrong. The doctors told us that her sodium levels were very low. They helped her get back up to speed in the hospital, but what should we do if this happens again? We would rather not take another trip to the emergency room, so any advice would be helpful.
4 Answers
Low sodium is frequently caused by the medications your Mother is taking (particularly diuretics-water pills-frequently prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart disease). Have her see her primary care physician and ask if her medications need to be adjusted to prevent these episodes of low sodium (hyponatremia).
Check the medications box: Lasix and like loop diuretics are the likeliest cause. Rarely diarrhea, sweating, or sodium-free diet.
Hyponatremia, or a significant drop in sodium level, is not a do-it-yourself repair. It is life-threatening, causing confusion, seizures, heart rhythm problems, and potentially death. The treatment depends on how quickly the sodium level dropped. Advanced age, kidney disease, infection of the urinary tract with certain bacteria, and some medications increase the risk of occurrence. A diet with liberalized (but not high) salt intake, and monitoring fluid intake to be certain that excess water is not ingested, can help reduce the risk of recurrence.
While at home, make sure that she doesn't drink too much water most common in elderly people. If it is too late, take her to the ER; she needs an IV N.SALINE (ISOTONIC OR HYPERTONIC, DEPENDING ON SODUIM LEVELS).
