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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffThe following factors may increase your risk of hyponatremia:
- Age. Low blood sodium is more common in older adults. Contributing factors include age-related changes and a greater likelihood of developing a chronic disease that impairs your body's sodium balance.
- Diet. You may be at an increased risk of hyponatremia if you are following a low-sodium diet, especially if you also drink diuretic beverages, such as beer.
- Intensive physical activities. People who drink too much water while taking part in marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons and other long-distance, high-intensity activities are at an increased risk of hyponatremia.
- Climate. New exposure to hot weather can increase the amount of sodium you lose through sweating during exercise.
- Conditions that impair your body's water excretion. Medical conditions that may increase your risk of hyponatremia include kidney disease, syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH) and heart failure, among others.
- Certain drugs. Medications that increase your risk of hyponatremia include thiazide diuretics as well as some antidepressants and pain medications that cause you to urinate or perspire more than usual. In addition, the recreational drug Ecstasy has been linked to fatal cases of hyponatremia.
References
- Rose BD. Diagnosis of hyponatremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Gibbs MA, et al. Electrolyte disturbances. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-5/845288330/1365/382.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50128-1_6348. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Rose BD. Causes of hyponatremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Rose BD. Treatment of hyponatremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Weinberg MS, et al. Disorders of sodium homeostasis. In: Ferri FF. Practical Guide to the Care of the Medical Patient. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-3/0/1417/921.html?tocnode=52510185&fromURL=921.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Drezner JA, et al. Environmental influences. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-6/845288600/1481/481.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50043-9--cesec21_2481. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Ferrante MA, et al. Endogenous metabolic disorders. In: Goetz GD. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-7/845289096/1488/324.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10038-4_2905. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Campbell GA. The agony of ecstasy: MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and the kidney. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2008;3:1852.
