Low sodium levels in elderly

• Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia can include altered personality, lethargy and confusion. Severe hyponatremia can cause seizures, coma and even death.

A low sodium level in the elderly can cause neurological symptoms. If elderly people’s sodium levels become too low, they will experience neurological symptoms such as headache and confusion. When the body is low on electrolytes like sodium, it will start to break down muscle tissue for energy.

What causes low sodium levels in elderly?

Hyponatremia in elderly subjects is mainly caused by drugs (more frequently thiazides and antidepressants), the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIAD) or endocrinopathies; however, hyponatremia is multifactorial in a significant proportion of patients.

What causes sodium levels to drop?

A low sodium level has many causes , including consumption of too many fluids, kidney failure, heart failure, cirrhosis, and use of diuretics. Symptoms result from brain dysfunction.

How do you raise your sodium level?

Options include: Intravenous fluids. Your doctor may recommend IV sodium solution to slowly raise the sodium levels in your blood . Medications. You may take medications to manage the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia, such as headaches, nausea and seizures.

What happens when your sodium is too low?

Hyponatremia occurs when sodium levels in the blood are too low . Symptoms include lethargy, confusion, and fatigue. It can result from underlying conditions, such as kidney failure, or other factors, such as drinking too much water or taking certain medications.

How do you treat low sodium in elderly?

Hyponatremia treatments may include changing a medication that affects your sodium level, treating the underlying disease, changing the amount of water you drink or changing the amount of salt in your diet.

Will eating more salt help hyponatremia?

In elderly patients with a diet poor in protein and sodium , hyponatremia may be worsened by their low solute intake. The kidney’s need to excrete solutes aids in water excretion. An increase in dietary protein and salt can help improve water excretion.

Which organ is most affected by hyponatremia?

Who is most at risk for hyponatremia? Anyone can develop hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is more likely in people living with certain diseases, like kidney failure, congestive heart failure , and diseases affecting the lungs, liver or brain . It often occurs with pain after surgery.

What is a critical sodium level?

In many hospital laboratories 160 mEq/L is chosen as the upper critical value. The evidence of this study suggests that sodium in the range of 155-160 mEq/L is associated with high risk of death and that 155 mEq/L rather than 160 mEq/L might be more suitable as the upper critical level .

Does coffee affect sodium levels?

Chronic caffeine intake increases urinary sodium excretion without affecting plasma sodium concentration .

What foods raise sodium levels?

High- Sodium Foods Smoked, cured, salted or canned meat, fish or poultry including bacon, cold cuts, ham, frankfurters, sausage, sardines, caviar and anchovies. Frozen breaded meats and dinners, such as burritos and pizza. Canned entrees, such as ravioli, spam and chili. Salted nuts. Beans canned with salt added.

How quickly can you correct hyponatremia?

In patients with severe symptomatic hyponatremia , the rate of sodium correction should be 6 to 12 mEq per L in the first 24 hours and 18 mEq per L or less in 48 hours.

How long does it take to recover from low sodium?

Although sodium may take longer to normalise within the brain and hence the neuropsychiatric symptoms take longer to resolve but serum levels should be corrected as advised earlier no faster than 10-12 mEq/L in 24 hrs . Levels lower than 105 mEq/L are prone to develop osmotic demyelination if corrected too rapidly.

Is low sodium salt good for you?

Highlights. Nephrologists say low sodium salts have higher percentage of potassium, which, if consumed in larger amount, can be equally bad for health . It can cause hyperkalemia — excess levels of potassium in blood — that is known to cause symptoms such as weakened pulse, slow heartbeat or muscle weakness.

Can dehydration cause low sodium?

Chronic, severe vomiting or diarrhea and other causes of dehydration . This causes your body to lose electrolytes, such as sodium , and also increases ADH levels. Drinking too much water. Drinking excessive amounts of water can cause low sodium by overwhelming the kidneys’ ability to excrete water.

How do I test my sodium levels?

How is the sodium blood test done? This test is performed on a blood sample, obtained by venipuncture. A technician will insert a small needle into a vein on your arm or hand. This will be used to fill a test tube with blood.