What causes low blood sodium in older adults?

What causes low blood sodium in older adults?

Answer From Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D. Low blood sodium (hyponatremia) occurs when you have an abnormally low amount of sodium in your blood or when you have too much water in your blood. Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities.

What happens when your sodium level goes below 135?

Hyponatremia occurs when your sodium level goes below 135 mEq/L. Symptoms of low blood sodium can vary from person to person. If your sodium levels fall gradually, you may not experience any symptoms. If they drop very quickly, your symptoms may be more severe.

When to go to the ER for low sodium?

You may experience low sodium symptoms daily or just once in a while. At times any of these low sodium symptoms can be severe: In some cases, low sodium can be life threatening. Seek immediate me dical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

When do you have too much sodium in your blood?

Low blood sodium (hyponatremia) occurs when you have an abnormally low amount of sodium in your blood or when you have too much water in your blood. Low blood sodium is common in older adults, especially those who are hospitalized or living in long-term care facilities.

Why did my mother go to the ER for low sodium?

My Mother has been hospitalized twice (years apart) for low sodium. In both cases she was having fainting spells, her speech was slurred, and she had trouble thinking clearly. She drinks a lot of water and they put her on a water diet at the time.

What was the sodium level in the hospital?

Her last visit to the hospital her sodium level went 129. She was admitted with 121 level. After being home for 2 days it dropped to 124. She made it very clear she is done with the hospital so, her Dr. recommended Hospice care. It was a very hard decision but, she just wants to be comfortable.

Why are my sodium levels so low after surgery?

Usually the hyponatremia is mild, with blood plasma sodium levels ranging from 130 to 135 mg/dl, but in about 10% of all hospitalizations low sodium levels are severe, below 130 mg/dl. And certain surgical procedures, especially hip surgery, are especially likely to cause low sodium levels.

When do patients with low sodium levels die?

When patients come into the hospital with low sodium levels and then have surgery, they are more likely to die of complications. About 10% of patients admitted with low sodium levels who have to have hip surgery right away, for instance, die of complications within 30 days.