Hypernatremia—AdultPronounced: hahy-per-nuh-TREE-mee-uh
by
Marjorie Montemayor-Quellenberg, MA DefinitionHypernatremia is when there is too much sodium in the body. CausesHypernatremia happens when there is an imbalance in the amount of water and sodium in the body—too little water for the amount of sodium. 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:
Risk FactorsHypernatremia is more common in older adults. Other factors that may increase your chance of hypernatremia include:
SymptomsHypernatremia may cause:
Untreated hypernatremia can be fatal.
DiagnosisYou will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. You will be asked about your fluid intake and urine output. A physical exam will be done. Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
TreatmentFluid ReplacementLiquids can be given by mouth or IV to balance the fluids in your body. 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. You may also be given medication to treat nausea. PreventionTo help reduce your chance of getting hypernatremia:
RESOURCES:Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://www.niddk.nih.gov/ CANADIAN RESOURCES:The College of Family Physicians of Canada http://www.cfpc.ca/ForPatients Health Canada https://www.canada.ca References:
Central diabetes insipidus. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
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. Updated June 7, 2017. Accessed December 18, 2017.
Dehydration and hypovolemia in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
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. Updated October 5, 2015. Accessed December 18, 2017.
Hypernatremia - approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
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. Updated August 19, 2016. Accessed December 18, 2017.
Hypernatremia. Merck Manual Professional Edition website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated April 2016. Accessed January 4, 2018.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
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. Updated June 7, 2017. Accessed December 18, 2017.
Last reviewed November 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Michael Woods, MD, FAAP Last Updated: 12/20/2014 |
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