Hypernatremia—Adult

Pronounced: hahy-per-nuh-TREE-mee-uh

• Definition • Causes • Risk Factors • Symptoms • Diagnosis • Treatment • Prevention

Definition

Hypernatremia is a condition in which the level of sodium in the body is too high. This happens when there is an imbalance in the amount of water and sodium in the body—too little water, too much sodium. This condition may be serious. It requires care from your doctor.

Causes

The main cause of hypernatremia is having more water leave your body than enter it. This causes dehydration. A person can become dehydrated in different ways, such as:

Drinking too little fluids
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Using diuretics (medicines that increase urine output)
Sweating a lot
Having certain medical conditions (eg, diabetes or kidney disorder)

Risk Factors

Risk factors include:

Not getting enough fluids
Losing too much fluid
Advanced age
Having certain medical conditions (eg, diabetes or kidney disorder)

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

Being thirsty
Dry mouth
Serious symptoms:
- Brain dysfunction
- Confusion
- Muscle twitching
- Seizure
- Coma

If left untreated, the condition may lead to death.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a symptom of hypernatremia.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will:

Ask about your symptoms
Ask about your fluid intake and your urine output
Take your medical history
Do a physical exam

Tests may include:

Blood test—to check the sodium levels, other salt levels, and sugar levels in your blood. Kidney function may also be checked with a blood test.
Urine test—to check for urine sodium levels and sugar levels

Treatment

Fluid Replacement

To regain a proper balance of fluids in your body, liquid can be given to you either by mouth or through an IV (needle in your vein). The fluid will contain a specific concentration of water, sugar, and sodium. Reintroducing fluids slowly into your body will lower the sodium to a normal level. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of getting hypernatremia, take these steps:

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
Work with your doctor to manage any health conditions effectively.

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
http://www.cfpc.ca/

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

REFERENCES:

Adrogué HJ, Madias NE. Hypernatremia. N Engl J Med . 2000 May 18; 342(20):1493-1499.

Chassagne P, Druesne L, Capet C, Ménard JF, Bercoff E. Clinical presentation of hypernatremia in elderly patients: a case control study. J Am Geriatr Soc . 2006 Aug; 54(8):1225-1230.

Dehydration and hypovolemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/ . Updated May 5, 2011. Accessed August 18, 2011.

Hypernatremia. The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals website. Available at: http://www.merckma... . Updated May 2009. Accessed August 18, 2011.

Sodium. The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook for Patients and Caregivers website. Available at: http://www.merckma... . Updated August 2008. Accessed August 17, 2011.

Stuart W, Smellie A, Heald A. Hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia: pitfalls in testing. BMJ . 2007 March 3; 334(7591): 473-476.

Last reviewed November 2012 by Igor Puzanov, MD
Last Updated: 11/26/2012

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