1. Take the Blood Disorders Quiz

Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Hyponatremia may occur in a variety of situations and is due to an abnormality of water and sodium regulation. It is important for the health care practitioner to decide whether the low sodium occurred acutely (within 48 hours) or whether the hyponatremia is more chronic in nature.

Treatment is directed at correcting the underlying cause and then helping the body correct the sodium and water levels in the body. If the underlying cause is resolved, then observation may be all that is needed.

The urgency of treatment depends upon the neurologic status of the patient, with those is coma or having seizures needing emergent intervention. Intravenous saline in a variety of concentrations may be used to correct the sodium deficit in the body.

For those patients with chronic hyponatremia, correcting the sodium levels too quickly may be associated with central pontine myelinolysis, in which cells in the midbrain are damaged, leading to stroke-like symptoms.

Must Read Articles Related to Hyponatremia (Low Sodium)

Acute Kidney Failure Kidney failure, or the ability of the kidneys to filter water and waste is caused by prerenal, postrenal, or renal problems with the kidney(s). Symptoms of kidn...learn more >>

Chronic Kidney Disease Twenty percent of people over the age of 20 years will develop chronic kidney disease in their lifetime. Chronic kidney disease causes are diseases of the kidne...learn more >>

Dehydration in Adults Dehydration occurs when the loss of body fluids (mostly water), exceeds the amount that is taken in. Causes of dehydration include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, di...learn more >>

See the Entire Hyponatremia (Low Sodium) Topic Guide »