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Hypernatremia, also spelled hypernatraemia, is a high concentration of sodium in the blood. [3] Early symptoms may include a strong feeling of thirst , weakness, nausea, and loss of appetite . [ 1 ]
Symptoms of hypernatremia may vary depending on type and how quickly the electrolyte disturbance developed. [27] Common symptoms are dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, increased thirst, and excess urination. Patients may be on medications that caused the imbalance such as diuretics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. [27]
Hyponatremia or hyponatraemia is a low concentration of sodium in the blood. [4] 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. [3] [8] Symptoms can be absent, mild or severe.
Hypernatremia (high blood sodium level, above 145 mEq/L) causes thirst, and due to brain cell shrinkage may cause confusion, muscle twitching, or spasms. With severe elevation, seizures and comas may occur.
Death can result if medical intervention is not forthcoming. These symptoms are generally a consequence of hypernatremia – an abnormally high sodium level in the blood. (There are myriad causes of hypernatremia, which is frequently encountered in medical practice; salt poisoning is not a common cause). [citation needed]
This is what causes the hypokalemia, hypertension, and hypernatremia associated with the syndrome. Patients often present with severe hypertension and end-organ changes associated with it like left ventricular hypertrophy, retinal, renal and neurological vascular changes along with growth retardation and failure to thrive.
This keeps serum sodium concentration – a proxy for solute concentration – at normal levels, prevents hypernatremia and turns off the osmoreceptors. [7] Specifically, when the serum sodium rises above 142 mEq/L, ADH secretion is maximal (and thirst is stimulated as well); when it is below 135 mEq/L, there is no secretion. [8]
In summary, hyperaldosteronism causes hypernatremia, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. [ 13 ] Finer notes on aldosterone include the fact that it stimulates sodium-potassium ATPase in muscle cells , increasing intracellular potassium and also increases sodium reabsorption all along the intestine and nephron , possibly due to widespread ...