Patient Education: Hyponatremia

What is Hyponatremia?

Hyponatremia means you have low sodium in your blood. Sodium is a mineral that helps control the amount of water in and around your cells and helps your muscles and nerves work right.

Causes and Risk Factors

Drinking too much water without enough salt.
Losing sodium through vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating a lot.
Certain medicines like diuretics (water pills), antidepressants, or pain medicines.
Some health problems like heart, kidney, or liver disease.
Hormone problems such as low adrenal or thyroid function.

Signs and Symptoms

Early warning signs:

Feeling tired or weak
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Confusion or trouble concentrating

Other symptoms if it gets worse:

Muscle cramps or spasms
Seizures
Drowsiness or loss of consciousness
Trouble breathing

Complications if Untreated

If hyponatremia is not treated, it can cause brain swelling, seizures, coma, or even death.

Treatment and Self-Care

Your doctor may limit how much fluid you drink.
You might get medicines to raise your sodium level or treat the cause.
You may need to eat a special diet with more sodium.
Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

Common Medications

Salt tablets: help raise sodium levels.
Diuretics: sometimes used to remove extra water but may need careful monitoring.
Other medicines to treat underlying problems.

Possible side effects:

Upset stomach from salt tablets.
Medicines may cause changes in blood pressure or kidney function.

Dietary Needs and Lifestyle Changes

Follow your doctor’s advice about how much to drink each day.
Eat foods with enough salt unless your doctor says otherwise.
Avoid drinking too much water or low-sodium drinks.
Tell your healthcare team about all medicines you take.

Safety Considerations

Don’t drink large amounts of water without checking with your doctor.
Watch for symptoms like confusion, seizures, or severe headache and report them immediately.
Keep follow-up appointments and blood tests to check sodium levels.

Prevention and Maintenance

Keep track of your fluid intake as advised.
Follow your diet and medicine instructions.
Report any new symptoms right away.

When to Call for Help

Call your Home Health Agency or Doctor if:
- You feel tired, weak, or confused.
- You have headaches or nausea.
- You notice muscle cramps or spasms.
Go to the Emergency Room if:
- You have seizures or loss of consciousness.
- You have trouble breathing.
- You feel very confused or very sleepy.

Patient Homework / Assessment: True or False

Instructions: Read each statement below. Circle "True" if you think the statement is correct or "False" if it is not. If the statement is False, please write the correct answer next to it.

True / False: Hyponatremia means low sodium in the blood.
True / False: Drinking too much water can cause hyponatremia.
True / False: Sodium helps control water in and around your cells.
True / False: Headaches can be a sign of hyponatremia.
True / False: Muscle cramps can be a symptom of hyponatremia.
True / False: Eating too much salt always causes hyponatremia.
True / False: Vomiting and diarrhea can cause low sodium.
True / False: Some medicines can cause hyponatremia.
True / False: Confusion can be a serious symptom of hyponatremia.
True / False: You should drink as much water as possible if you have hyponatremia.
True / False: Salt tablets can help raise sodium levels.
True / False: It is important to follow your doctor’s fluid restrictions if you have hyponatremia.
True / False: You should stop all your medicines if you have low sodium.
True / False: Severe hyponatremia can cause seizures.
True / False: You do not need to get your sodium levels checked regularly.
True / False: You should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
True / False: Low sodium can cause nausea and vomiting.
True / False: You should always avoid salt if you have low sodium.
True / False: Hyponatremia can happen in people with kidney, heart, or liver problems.
True / False: If you feel very confused or sleepy, you should go to the emergency room.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Questions to Personalize Your Education

What are your most recent sodium lab test results?
How often do you get your sodium levels checked?
What medicines are you currently taking that may affect your sodium?
Have you noticed symptoms like confusion, headaches, or muscle cramps?
What do you usually drink and eat each day?
Do you know how much fluid you should drink daily?