

Hypernatremia is defined as a serum sodium level above 146 mmol/L. Hypernatremia Symptoms and causes of hypernatremia In more extreme cases a saline (salt) solution may be administered intravenously to gradually raise sodium levels to a safe level. Treatment for hyponatremia will depend on the underlying cause and may be as simple as adjusting your diet, drinking less water or stopping taking certain medications until sodium levels are restored. In really serious instances, low sodium levels can cause the brain to swell leading to confusion, fits, comas and sometimes death, though this is rare.

This usually happens if you drink too much water in a short time. Low sodium levels in the blood causes hyponatremia. But higher levels of sodium in the blood that don’t come down, do need further investigation. If you’re otherwise feeling well, it’s quite possible the test result was due to poor sample collection or a reflection of your sodium level on that day, and the next reading may be normal. 146 mmol/L or above (hypernatremia) is much less common. A high level of sodium in the blood, i.e. Some people naturally have slightly high sodium levels, usually around 146-148 mmol/L.Ī low level of sodium in the blood (also known as hyponatremia) is relatively common. The normal range for sodium levels in the blood is 135-145 millimoles per litre (mmol/L). Your body carefully balances the sodium levels in the blood.
