Diagnosis
Low sodium levels in the blood can be caused by many factors. Your healthcare professional will start by asking about your medical history and doing a physical examination. This may include questions about the medicines you take.
However, because the symptoms of hyponatremia occur in many conditions, it's impossible to diagnose the condition based on a physical exam alone. To confirm low blood sodium, your healthcare team may order blood tests and urine tests.
Treatment
Hyponatremia treatment is aimed at addressing the underlying cause, if possible.
If you have moderate, chronic hyponatremia due to your diet, diuretics or drinking too much water, your healthcare professional may recommend temporarily cutting back on fluids. They also may suggest adjusting your diuretic use to increase the level of sodium in your blood.
If you have serious, acute hyponatremia, you'll need more aggressive treatment. Options include:
- Intravenous fluids. Your healthcare professional may recommend an IV sodium solution to slowly raise the sodium levels in your blood. This requires a stay in the hospital for frequent monitoring of sodium levels as too rapid of a correction is dangerous.
- Medicines. You may take medicines to manage the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia, such as headaches, nausea and seizures.
Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Preparing for your appointment
Seek emergency care for anyone who develops serious symptoms of hyponatremia, such as nausea and vomiting, confusion, seizures, or lost consciousness.
Call your healthcare professional if you know you are at risk of hyponatremia and are experiencing nausea, headaches, cramping or weakness. Depending on the extent and duration of these signs and symptoms, your healthcare professional may recommend seeking immediate medical care.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your healthcare team.
What you can do
- List any symptoms you or your loved one has been experiencing and for how long.
- Write down key medical information, including other medical problems for which you are being treated. Include the names of all medications, vitamins, supplements or other natural remedies you are taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if you are the one with symptoms of low blood sodium. Someone who accompanies you can help remember all of the information and provide support if you need immediate medical care.
- Write down questions to ask your healthcare professional.
For hyponatremia, some basic questions to ask your healthcare professional include:
- What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
- What causes hyponatremia?
- How serious is the condition?
- What treatment do you recommend?
- How soon do you expect my symptoms will begin to improve?
- Am I at risk of any long-term problems?
- How can I prevent a recurrence of this condition?
- Do I need to make any changes to how much fluid I usually drink?
What to expect from your doctor
Being ready to answer your healthcare team's questions may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your team may ask:
- What are your symptoms and when did they start?
- Have you started taking any new medicines?
- Have your symptoms been getting any better or worse since they first developed?
- Have your symptoms included any mental changes, such as feeling confused, agitated or depressed?
- Have you had nausea, vomiting or diarrhea?
- Have you felt faint, had seizures or lost consciousness?
- Have you had a headache? If yes, has it gotten progressively worse?
- Have your symptoms included weakness, fatigue or lethargy?
- Do you use recreational drugs? If yes, which drugs?