Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia can include altered personality, lethargy and confusion. Severe hyponatremia can cause seizures, coma and even death.
In this regard, can an elderly person recover from low sodium?
If sodium levels drop too much or too quickly, hyponatremia can quickly become life-threatening. Therapy may be short-term or long-term, but with early diagnosis and treatment, most people can fully recover from hyponatremia.
- cutting back on fluid intake.
- adjusting the dosage of diuretics.
- taking medications for symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and seizures.
- treating underlying conditions.
- stopping or changing a medication for a chronic condition that may be negatively affecting blood sodium.
Accordingly, how do you treat low sodium levels in the elderly?
Hyponatremia treatments may include changing a medication that affects your sodium level, treating the underlying disease, changing the amount of water you drink or changing the amount of salt in your diet.
What is the fastest way to correct sodium?
Options include: Intravenous fluids. Your doctor may recommend 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.
What would cause sodium levels to drop?
Chronic, severe vomiting or diarrhea and other causes of dehydration. This causes your body to lose electrolytes, such as sodium, and also increases ADH levels. Drinking too much water. Drinking excessive amounts of water can cause low sodium by overwhelming the kidneys’ ability to excrete water.
Which organ is most affected by hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia occurs when your blood sodium level goes below 135 mEq/L. When the sodium level in your blood is too low, extra water goes into your cells and makes them swell. This swelling can be dangerous especially in the brain, since the brain cannot expand past the skull.