Anne Tourney specializes in health and nutrition topics. Sodium is dissolved in the body’s fluids like the blood and tissue fluid. Hyponatremia is an electrolyte imbalance and is indicated by a low level of sodium in the blood. Most cases of prolonged hyponatremia in the elderly are related to medication. Eye Health To maintain a healthy balance of fluids and sodium, your doctor may recommend changes in any medications you may be taking that affect your sodium levels. Get the latest and accurate info on senior health, Skin Cancer (Malignant Tumors) in the Elderly. Nutrition. This can cause mild symptoms of nausea and headaches and eventually lead to rapid brain swelling and death. The major cause of increase in the incidence of diabetes is a sedentary lifestyle. Hyponatremia is a medical condition characterized by low concentration of sodium in the blood. Water and sodium levels are closely related regulated together. Mild symptoms include a decreased ability to think, headaches, nausea, and poor balance. Test Results. Medication such as diuretics, antidepressants and pain killers. Tourney earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Regis University. Low Sodium and Dehydration. It is generally defined as a sodium concentration of less than 135 mmol/L (135 mEq/L), with severe hyponatremia being below 120 mEq/L. Monitoring your fluid intake and your cognitive status are important aspects of your care. Elderly patients with low sodium levels are usually asymptomatic, although headaches, nausea, confusion and respiratory arrest show up in severe conditions, according to Kugler and Hustead for the American Family Physician journal from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Sodium concentration is higher in the bloodstream than inside cells. Sodium plays an essential role in various bodily functions, such as fluid balance, … Sodium and water levels in the body are tightly regulated to keep it functioning normally. Diabetes Mellitus Hyponatremia may also be a … Hearing Problems Varicose Veins, Dental Health Exercise Hyponatremia is a low sodium concentration in the blood. In the late stages of hyponatremia, you may have twitching, restlessness and other signs that your nervous system has been affected. The hormones aldosterone (made in the adrenal gland) and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin (made in the pituitary) adjust the way the kidneys deal with water and sodium to maintain the appropr… A senior may find that their thirst mechanism is impaired and so is the kidney’s response to an important hormone known as ADH (anti diuretic hormone) which regulates the water output in the urine. It should not be Learn about the symptoms of low sodium, sodium blood tests, and normal sodium levels. According to “Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications,” the normal sodium level in the blood is 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter of blood. Sometimes low sodium levels may be a combination of both solute dilution and solute depletion. One of the common risk factors for dangerously low sodium levels is old age. Liver failure may also affect the amount of sodium in your bloodstream. Age, race and diet are certain factors which affect one’s chance of getting hyponatremia. Neurological changes are among the first signs of low sodium, an electrolyte that affects your fluid volume, nerve and muscle function. advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. Low sodium levels (hyponatremia) occur when there is a below-normal sodium level in the body. Apart from these physiological changes with age, it may also be further exacerbated by various diseases and medication that can cause dehydration like : The signs and symptoms of low sodium levels are non-specific meaning it is not unique to the this condition. Confusion, disorientation and drowsiness--common symptoms of low sodium--may masquerade as the symptoms of other neurological conditions in the elderly, such as vascular dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Atherosclerosis Your sodium levels may get too low if your body loses too much water and electrolytes. Low sodium deficiency occurs in approximately 20% of patients who are admitted into the hospital and 10% of those in an endurance sporting event. Headaches caused by the buildup of fluid in your brain tissues are a common symptom of hyponatremia. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Endocrine diseases affecting the thyroid and adrenal glands. 2020 With age this regulation is affected. Many factors can cause low blood sodium. Exercise and diet can either reduce or delay the incidence of diabetes by over 50%. , Sodium deficiency is also known as hyponatremia. Sleep Disorders Because age-related changes and chronic diseases are often associated with impairment of water metabolism in elderly patients, it is absolutely essential for clinicians to be aware of the pathophysiology of hyponatremia and hypernatremia in the elderly. Her last visit to the hospital her sodium level went 129. Stomach Problems Symptoms can be absent, mild or severe. In the elderly, alterations in kidney function can affect the way your body concentrates urine and processes sodium. The urinary sodium level (>20 mEq/L), urinary osmolality (>100 mOsm/kg), and low serum uric acid levels are findings that supported the diagnosis of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (also known as the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, or SIADH). Hyponatremia refers to a low level of sodium in the blood. Skin Problems Sodium levels in the blood have to be tightly controlled. Hyponatremia is … Hyponatremia is present when levels drop below 135 mEq/L. A low sodium level in the blood is called hyponatremia and can be caused by several things. Severe symptoms include confusion, seizures, and coma. Copyright © 2020 SeniorHealth365.com. It is important that the elderly or caregivers do NOT stop medication. Sodium is an element, or an electrolyte, that is found in the blood. Symptoms of low sodium can develop rapidly once your sodium levels drop. Taking diuretics, pain medication, antidepressants or other prescription drugs may also alter your fluid balance. Hyponatremia (low blood sodium) is a condition that means you don’t have enough sodium in your blood. Low Sodium Blood Levels (Hyponatremia) in the Elderly Sodium is an essential mineral in the body that is an important component of many processes in the body. In fact, critically low sodium levels can be downright dangerous, placing the body and brain at risk. Changes in the way your body processes water can affect your balance of fluids and electrolytes as you age. Having your sodium levels checked regularly by your doctor should be a routine part of your medical care. When the sodium levels fall below the normal level of 135 mEq/L, it is known that your body has low sodium levels. used as a substitute for professional medical advice, The normal adult value for sodium is 136-145 mEq/L. Hyponatremia: How to Raise Low Blood Sodium Levels | Livestrong.com You may also need to reduce your fluid intake or increase the amount of salt you consume. In fact, many other diseases which are common in the elderly may have one or more of these symptoms. Ongoing confusion and low energy levels may be signs that you have chronically low sodium. Taking diuretics, pain medication, antidepressants or other prescription drugs may also alter your fluid balance. diagnosis or treatment. However, high sodium is not unique to the elderly whereas low sodium levels (hyponatremia) are more likely to arise with age as well as in some diseases and the use of certain medication. Know the causes, symptoms, and treatment of hyponatremia in elderly. Management of abnormalities in water homeostasis is frequently challenging. Both these abnormal sodium states in the body can be harmful and seniors and their caregivers have to be prudent with regards to dietary sodium intake – not too much but not too little either. Osteoporosis They can also have overly high levels of water in the blood, which reduces the overall blood sodium concentration, according to Mayo Clinic. Treatment to raise sodium levels depends on the cause and symptoms. Privacy Policy It therefore does not clearly indicate a problem with sodium. Symptoms of low sodium may not appear until your blood sodium level has fallen to a dangerous point, according to an article in the June 15, 2000 issue of "American Family Physician." Maintaining proper sodium levels in your blood is critical to health. The sensation of thirst, renal function, concentrating abilities and hormonal modulators of salt and water balance are often impaired in the elderly, which makes such patients highl… Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM Health issues arising from extremely low sodium levels may be fatal. Without it, the normal water levels in the body cannot be maintained and nerve and muscle function would be severely compromised. My mother is now on hospice. Therefore the medication should be changed to drugs that do not have this adverse effect on salt and water levels. Hyponatremia or low sodium blood levels may result from excess fluid in the body relative to a normal amount of sodium, or it may be due to a loss of sodium and body fluid caused by chronic conditions like kidney or … Irritable Bowel Syndrome Mobility Aid Drinking too much water to compensate for your loss of fluids can contribute to low sodium levels. Severe hyponatremia is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate intervention to restore your fluid and electrolyte balance. However, you may not experience headaches until your blood sodium level has dropped to a very low level. The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse Confusion, disorientation and drowsiness--common symptoms of low sodium--may masquerade as the symptoms of other neurological conditions in the elderly, such as vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Seniors should have less sodium because they are more likely to have medical problems like kidney disease or diabetes that limit their body's ability to keep sodium levels balanced. If you live in a long-term care facility or you've been hospitalized, you may be especially prone to low sodium levels due to changes in your daily routines. She is a registered nurse with experience in medical-surgical nursing, behavioral health and geriatrics. All rights reserved. Dementia Ongoing malaise--a general sense of physical discomfort--may be a sign that your sodium level is chronically low. Healthy Bones For example, hormones involved include antidiuretic hormone and cortisol, and organs involved include the brain and kidneys. In many cases, too much water in the body dilutes the sodium, causing the … generally, if an elderly person has sodium level go from 142 to 150 mmo/l in 24 hrs should anything be done & what? Nursing Home Terms of Use Sodium chloride is known commonly as table salt. The change in medication has to be done very carefully under the supervision of a medical doctor. The treatment of dehydration includes the administration of fluids, either orally or intravenously. Headaches may be a sign of severe hyponatremia or another serious medical condition and warrant prompt medical attention. Sodium is an electrolyte, a compound that conducts electrical signals to your nerves and muscles. Hyponatremia may be a consequence of too much water in the body which then dilutes the sodium levels (solute dilution) but can also be due to too little sodium in the body (solute depletion). Brain Problems This condition may be due to a variety of reasons including: over consumption of fluids, vomiting, diarrhea, burns, kidney disorders and a variety of other diseases. Consult your doctor for a complete medical evaluation if you've had recent changes in your mental status, energy levels, nerve function or thirst. Seniors older than 71 should limit themselves to 1.2 grams. Both of these amounts are less than the 1.5 grams of sodium adults between 19 and 50 years old can consume. 20 In most of the cases, the level of hyponatremia has been clinically significant, with serum sodium concentrations as low as 101 mEq/L and with symptoms ranging from confusion to seizures and coma. Low sodium levels are often seen among the elderly, especially within those who are living in long-term facilities or staying at the hospital for any health-related reason. Severe hyponatremia may cause a loss of consciousness and respiratory function. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the Balancing Your Fluid Intake and Output Limit your water intake to 1–1.5 L (34–51 fl oz) per day if … Regulatory mechanisms help control and maintain sodium levels. 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