Sodium deficiency or hyponatraemia refers to the low sodium concentration in the body of an individual. As other minerals, Sodium also plays essential roles in the human body. It is required for many of the functions of the body, including blood pressure management, fluid balance and the proper functioning of the nervous system. It may also sometimes lead to neurological impairments which affect walking and attention and could also result in bone fracture. Hyponatremia can be caused due to drinking too much of water, without enough replacement of sodium from the body. However, consuming too much of sodium can increase the volume of blood in the body, resulting in various health problems and can sometimes lead a person to coma.

The symptoms of sodium deficiency or hyponatraemia aren’t usually always specific. They can differ from person to person and depend on how rapid the fall in the sodium concentration of the body is. However, some of the common symptoms that are usually seen in the affected persons are as follows:

1.Gastrointestinal distress: One of the symptoms of hyponatraemia includes gastrointestinal distress. It may cause a decrease in the appetite of an individual and also result in nausea and vomiting. However, if a person suffering from sodium deficiency experiences vomiting, then their problem may continue to worsen.

2.Cognitive Impairment: Deficiency in sodium level can also result in abnormal mental status. Hyponatremia causes expanding of the tissue cells in the body. However, maximum tissues in the body can handle this change but the brain cannot. It is not capable of compensating for the increased size of the cells and as a result, the brain starts to dysfunction and causes a headache, confusion, lethargy and the problem of fatigue. With the worsening of the conditions, the person can experience hallucinations, decrease in consciousness and may also lead to coma.

3.Muscular Problems: Due to the drop in Sodium concentration, a person can experience various muscular problems including spasms or cramps. He/She may also suffer from fatigue. The weakness in the muscles and seizures are some of the additional symptoms of sodium deficiency.
The severity of these symptoms depends on the speed i.e., on how fast the fall in the blood salt level is. A gradual, low-level drop can be tolerated if it lasts for a few days or weeks, but the deficiency of sodium in the body can be fatal if not treated as early as possible. It may even lead to the death of a person.

Around 40% of adults all over the world suffer from hypertension, and many may not know that too much of salt in the diet is the leading cause of developing high blood pressure. Recent studies from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension have shown the advantages of taking a lower amount of salt. But the real problem is that most people find salt to be tasteful just like sugar, and this tends to cast its harmful effects on overall health.


What happens to the body when you take too much of salt?
Salt contains sodium, and the kidneys have troubles to keep up with its optimal functions when there is an excessive amount of sodium in the bloodstream. When sodium starts to accumulate, the body holds back water for diluting the sodium which enters the blood vessels thereby increasing the volume of blood in the stream. When this happens, the heart has to overwork, and more pressure will be exerted in the blood vessels. With the passage of time, the excess amount of pressure would stiffen the blood vessels which would pave the way for stroke, heart attack or even heart failure.

What are the signs and symptoms of taking too much sodium?

Most people are generally unaware that there is an excessive salt intake and hence could be dangerous. Therefore, it is important to look for signs that your body is pleading to reduce the consumption of salt.

You are feeling very thirsty: When you eat foods with high amounts of sodium such as chips, pepperoni pizza, and ketchup, you are likely to feel dry. This is because of the high amounts of sodium that troubles the balance of fluid in the body which makes you crave for water so that it can restore the salt balance.

There are swellings at strange places in the body: You may feel bloated in the morning when you take too much of salt. This phenomenon is termed as edema which means swelling of extra fluid in the tissues in the body.

You may develop stomach ulcers: Taking too much sodium is associated with stomach ulcers as well as cancers in mammals according to the recent journal Infection and Immunity. Even though more research is required, there is no harm in reducing the amount of salt in the diet and enjoy a healthy life.

Research also indicates that reducing the amounts of sodium can lower death rate over the long term. Hence, it is advisable to stick to the recommended amount of 2300mg which is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt per day to lead a healthy life.

No other ingredient is as basic but as important as salt in the culinary world. Without it, it is almost impossible to hit the right flavour note and make all the ingredients come together into a gastronomic joyride. A little sprinkling of the white crystals into a bowl of salad, steaks, omelette, stir-fries, soups, etc is customary. Now, coming to Indians, the love affair with salt goes another level. It is almost like a compulsory side that has to accompany every meal. Even our snacks and small bites come smeared with salt and we relish every bite of it. Such as namkeens like bhujiya, dalmoot, chana chor garma, and other treats like pakoras, samosas, chaats, etc. Shattering this fairy tale, health experts are connecting this salty Indian habit to their increased cases of high blood pressure and heart diseases. While natural salt may contain good amount of essential minerals, the variety we pick from the stores are highly processed and devoid of any goodness. So consuming large quantities of it is sure to lead to health hazards.

A recent study has revealed that Indians love salt a little too much. The study conducted by an Australian firm suggests that an average Indian consumes about 119% more salt than the WHO recommendation. WHO guidelines suggest that an individual should limit intake of salt to 2gm per day. The average intake by Indians was noted to be 10.98 gms which is more than 5 times the limit. This is alarming given the rise of Cadiovascular Diseases (CVDs)in India in the recent year. Between 2010 and 2013, around 23% of all deaths in India were attributed to Cardiovascular dieases.Conducted by George Institute of Global Health (GIGH), the study was published in The Journal of Hypertension. Doctors have for long discussed and advocated against the excess intake of Salt. Too much salt in your body can lead to a High Blood pressure, which in turn can cause several other heart-related diseases.

The WHO believes that high sodium consumption (more than 2 gm of sodium which is equivalent to 5 gm salt per day) and insufficient potassium intake (less than 3.5 gm per day) contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Dr Sanjay Kalra, Consultant Endocrinologist, Bharti Hospital, Karnal, and Vice President, South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies, said, "Processed and fast foods have become the norm since they are easier to make and carry, and consume. Consumption of pulses, fruits and vegetables has reduced." "A processed food diet is full of sugar, harmful fats, and excess salt leading to conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.

High blood pressure can also lead to kidney failure by causing extra strain on the arteries," he added. The study also notes that every measure of salt intake made in India except one has provided an estimate above the WHO-recommended maximum consumption level of 5 gm/day. The best estimate obtained by this meta-analysis suggests that average salt intake in India is double the recommended maximum level. Another study - published in the British Medical Journal - has shown that a government-supported national policy on reducing sodium intake by 10 per cent over 10 years can help reduce the burden of several lifestyle disorders including hypertension and heart disease.

Dr K K Aggarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), said "While sodium is needed by the body in certain amounts, an excess of it is very harmful. Excess salt is directly related to blood pressure. Increase in salt consumption raises the sodium level, thereby increasing blood pressure." "It can also double the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and strokes.

So it's about time you started keeping a strict check on your salt intake.

Regulating salt consumption is key to prevent hypertension, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke and heart failure, say experts.

Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

To lower the risk of heart disease, adults should reduce sodium intake to less than 2 grams a day, or the equivalent of about one teaspoon of table salt, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Hypertension can lead to cardiovascular diseases. The rise in blood pressure caused by eating too much salt may damage the arteries leading to the heart,” Vijay D’Silva, Director at the Asian Heart Institute, said in statement.

According to a recent study, published in the journal Hypertension, about half of adults living in Asia are suffering from the high blood pressure.

While lifestyle factors, including diet and stress, are behind the high hypertension rates in Asia, one common problem is high salt intake, the study showed.

Asians not only tend to have diets high in sodium, but they are genetically more sensitive to sodium, the researchers said.

“Raised blood pressure due to high salt consumption is the biggest single contributing risk factor for non-communicable diseases and damage to your kidney,” explained Bhupendra Gandhi of the NGO Amar Gandhi Foundation.

Previously, it was believed that eating high amounts of fruit and vegetables might help counteract the effect of high salt on blood pressure.

However, another study led by researchers from the Imperial College London and Northwestern University, showed that people eating higher amounts of salt had higher blood pressure — no matter how healthy a person’s overall diet.

Hypertension can also affect fertility in both males and females, says Rajalaxmi Walavalkar of Cocoon Fertility.

“Anyone with hypertension is at an increased risk of infertility. A high salt diet leading to high blood pressure can result in delayed puberty and even impact reproductive health,” Walavalkar noted.

Besides affecting the heart and fertility, hypertension can affect the skin too, the health experts said.

“High blood pressure can harden your arteries, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen. An impairment of the flow of oxygen, to an organ such as your face, can cause your skin to dry and wrinkles faster which can make one look less youthful,” said Amit Karkhanis – Medical Cosmetologist and founder of Dr Tvacha clinic.

Hypertension is also known to cause trouble sleeping which leads to signs of premature ageing (fine lines, uneven pigmentation and reduced elasticity).

Reducing salt consumption in everyday life, including fried foods, processed foods, cannot only curb the problem of hypertension but also save multiple organs from damage and pave way for a healthy life.

सोडियम हे इलेक्ट्रोलाइट शरीरातील सर्व द्रवपदार्थांमध्ये असते, नर्व आणि स्नायूंच्या कार्यप्रणालीसह शरीराच्या सामान्य कार्यासाठी आवश्यक असते. हे परीक्षण रक्तातील किंवा मूत्रात सोडियमचे स्तर मोजते.

सोडियम, इतर इलेक्ट्रोलाइट्ससह पोटॅशियम, क्लोराईड आणि बायकार्बोनेट (किंवा एकूण सीओ 2) सह, पेशींना सामान्यपणे कार्य करण्यास मदत करते आणि शरीरातील द्रव प्रमाण नियंत्रित करण्यास मदत करते.
सोडियम हा सर्व शरीरातील द्रवपदार्थांमध्ये उपस्थित असतो तर रक्त आणि शरीरातील पेशींच्या बाहेर द्रवपदार्थांमध्ये जास्त प्रमाणात आढळतो. हा अतिरिक्त सेल सोडियम तसेच सर्व शरीराचे पाणी मूत्रपिंडांद्वारे नियंत्रित केले जाते.

आम्ही आमच्या आहारामध्ये सोडियम, मीठ (सोडियम क्लोराईड किंवा NaCl) पासून आणि जे आपण खातो त्यातील काही अंशांपासून सोडतो. बहुतेक लोकांमध्ये सोडियमचे पुरेसे प्रमाण असते. शरीराला आवश्यक असलेल्या गोष्टींचा उपयोग होतो आणि बाकीचे मूत्रपिंड काढून टाकतात. शरीरात रक्तातील सोडियम एका संकीर्ण एकाग्रता श्रेणीमध्ये ठेवण्याचा प्रयत्न करते.

हार्मोन तयार करणे जे (नट्रिएरेटिक पेप्टाइड्स) वाढू शकतात किंवा कमी (एल्डोस्टेरोन) तयार करतात जे मूत्रात सोडल्या गेलेल्या सोडियमचे प्रमाण काढतात.
पाण्याचे नुकसान टाळण्यासाठी एक हार्मोन तयार करणे (एन्टिडियुरेटिक हार्मोन, एडीएच, कधीकधी वासप्रेसिन म्हणतात)
तहान नियंत्रित रक्तातील सोडियममधील 1% वाढीमुळे देखील व्यक्तीस तहान लागते आणि सोडियम पातळीला सामान्य पातळीवर परत आणण्याकरिता त्या व्यक्तीला पाणी पिण्यास गरज भासते.
असामान्य रक्त सोडियम सामान्यतः यापैकी एका प्रणालीसह काही समस्येमुळे असतो. जेव्हा रक्तातील सोडियमचे स्तर बदलते तेव्हा शरीरातील पाणी देखील बदलते. हे बदल फार कमी द्रवपदार्थ (डीहायड्रेशन) किंवा जास्त प्रमाणात द्रव (एडेमा) सह संबद्ध असू शकतात, बहुतेकदा पाय मध्ये सूज येऊ शकते.

कमी सोडियम (हायपोनॅट्रीमिया) आणि उच्च सोडियम (हायपरेट्रॅमिया) सह सोडियमच्या असामान्य सांद्रता शोधण्यासाठी सोडियम रक्त चाचणीचा वापर केला जातो. हे नियमितपणे नियमित आरोग्य तपासणीसाठी इलेक्ट्रोलाइट पॅनेल किंवा मूलभूत चयापचय पॅनेलचा भाग म्हणून वापरले जाते.

सोडियम हे सर्व शरीरातील द्रवपदार्थांमध्ये इलेक्ट्रोलाइट असते आणि नर्व आणि स्नायूंच्या कार्यप्रणालीसह शरीराच्या सामान्य कार्यासाठी आवश्यक असते. हे पेशींना सामान्यपणे कार्य करण्यास मदत करते आणि शरीरातील द्रवपदार्थाचे नियमन करण्यास मदत करते.

निर्जलीकरण, अतिरिक्त द्रव (edema), किंवा विविध लक्षणे (उदा. कमजोरी, गोंधळ, तहान आणि / किंवा कोरड्या श्लेष्मल झिल्ली) असलेल्या लोकांच्या उपचारांवर लक्ष ठेवण्यासाठी रक्त सोडियम चाचणीचा वापर केला जाऊ शकतो. अनेक आजारांमध्ये रक्त सोडियम असामान्य असू शकतो. एक इलेक्ट्रिकल व्यवसायी इतर इलेक्ट्रोलाइट्ससह, इलेक्ट्रोलाइट असंतुलन ओळखण्यासाठी किंवा मेंदू, फुफ्फुस, यकृत, हृदय, मूत्रपिंड, थायरॉईड किंवा एड्रेनल ग्रंथींचा समावेश असलेल्या आजाराचे लक्षण ओळखण्यासाठी केली जाऊ शकते.

ज्ञात इलेक्ट्रोलाइट असंतुलन असलेल्या लोकांमध्ये, उपचारांच्या प्रभावीतेचे परीक्षण करण्यासाठी किंवा डायरेटिक्ससारख्या सोडियम पातळ्यांवर परिणाम करणाऱ्या औषधांवर लक्ष ठेवण्यासाठी रक्त सोडियम चाचणीचा वापर केला जाऊ शकतो.

असंतुलन जास्त प्रमाणात सोडियम घेणे किंवा जास्त प्रमाणात सोडियम सोडणे हे निर्धारित करण्यात मदत करण्यासाठी असामान्य रक्त सोडियम पातळी असलेल्या लोकांना मूत्र सोडियम पातळीवर चाचणी केली जाऊ शकते. मूत्रपिंडाच्या रोगाचे कारण ठरविण्यास आणि उपचार मार्गदर्शनास मदत करण्यासाठी हेल्थकेअर प्रॅक्टिशनरना मदत करण्यासाठी असामान्य मूत्रपिंड चाचण्या असलेल्या लोकांसाठी मूत्र सोडियम चाचणी देखील वापरली जाते.

सोडियम चाचणी इलेक्ट्रोलिट पॅनेल किंवा मूलभूत चयापचयाच्या पॅनेलचा भाग म्हणून बऱ्याच लोकांना नियमित प्रयोगशाळेचे मूल्यांकन करण्याचा एक भाग आहे.
हे वार्षिक शारिरीक चाचणी दरम्यान किंवा जेव्हा एखाद्यास विशिष्ट आरोग्य तक्रारी असतील तेव्हा केली जाऊ शकते.

एखाद्या व्यक्तीस कमी सोडियमचे लक्षणे आढळल्यास रक्त सोडियम चाचणीची केली जाऊ शकते जसे की कमजोरी, गोंधळ आणि सुस्ती. जर सोडियम पातळी द्रुतगतीने घसरली तर व्यक्ती दुर्बल आणि थकल्यासारखे वाटू शकते; गंभीर प्रकरणांमध्ये, व्यक्तीस गोंधळ होऊ शकते किंवा कोमामध्ये देखील येऊ शकते. जेव्हा सोडियम पातळी हळू हळू पडते, तथापि काही लक्षणे दिसू शकत नाहीत. अशाचप्रकारे एखाद्याला लक्षणे नसले तरी सोडियम पातळी वारंवार तपासले जाते.

जेव्हा एखाद्या व्यक्तीस उच्च सोडियमचे लक्षण असतात, जसे की तहान, कोरडे श्लेष्मल झिल्ली (उदा. तोंड, डोळे), कमी वारंवार पेशी, स्नायू चिकटणे . जर सोडियम पातळी अत्यंत उच्च सांद्रता वाढते तर लक्षणे अस्वस्थता, अकारण अभिनय आणि कोमा किंवा आघात यांचा समावेश असू शकतात.

इंट्राव्हेनस (चतुर्थ) द्रवपदार्थांचे उपचार किंवा जेव्हा डिहायड्रेशन विकसित होण्याची शक्यता असते तेव्हा तपासणी करतेवेळी इलेक्ट्रोलाइट्स मोजले जाऊ शकतात. हाय ब्लड प्रेशर, हृदय अपयश आणि यकृत आणि मूत्रपिंडाच्या रोगासह काही विशिष्ट परिस्थितींच्या उपचारांवर देखरेख करताना इलेक्ट्रोलाइट पॅनल्स आणि मूलभूत चयापचयाच्या पॅनल्स देखील नियमितपणे केले जातात.

असंतुलनचे कारण ठरविण्यास किंवा उपचारांवर लक्ष ठेवण्यासाठी रक्त सोडियम चाचणी परिणाम असामान्य असतो तेव्हा मूत्र सोडियम चाचणीची मागणी केली जाऊ शकते.

रक्तातील सोडियम च्या निम्न पातळीसाठी (हाइपोनॅट्रीमिया) खालील कारण असू शकते:

डायरिया, उलट्या, जास्त घाम येणे, मूत्रपिंडाचा रोग, मूत्रपिंडाचा रोग किंवा कोर्टलिसॉलचे कमी प्रमाण, अॅल्डोस्टेरॉन आणि सेक्स हार्मोन (अॅडिसन रोग) यासारख्या गोष्टीमुळे जास्त प्रमाणात सोडियम सोडले जात असेल.
व्यायाम दरम्यान होऊ शकते म्हणून खूप पाणी पिणे
हृदयाच्या विफलतेमुळे, सिरोसिस आणि मूत्रपिंडाच्या रोगांमुळे शरीरात जास्त प्रमाणात द्रव जमा होणे (एडेमा) ज्यामुळे प्रोटीन लॉस (नेफ्रोटिक सिंड्रोम) किंवा कुपोषण होऊ शकते. बऱ्याच आजारांमध्ये, विशेषत: मेंदू आणि फुफ्फुस, अनेक प्रकारचे कर्करोग आणि काही औषधे असलेल्या शरीरात जास्त प्रमाणात अँटी-डायरेक्टिक हार्मोन (एडीएच) बनतो, ज्यामुळे एखाद्या व्यक्तीच्या शरीरात जास्त पाणी राखून राहते. कमी रक्त सोडियम क्वचितच सोडियम सेवन कमी होते (आहारातील कमी आहार किंवा चतुर्थ द्रवांमध्ये कमी सोडियम).

उच्च रक्त सोडियम पातळी (हायपरटार्मिया) ही जवळजवळ नेहमीच पुरेसे पाणी न पिल्याने जास्त प्रमाणात पाणी शरीराबाहेर (डीहायड्रेशन) गेल्याने होते. दुर्मिळ प्रकरणांमध्ये, पुरेसे पाणी, कशिंग सिंड्रोम किंवा बराच कमी एडीएचमुळे उद्भवणाऱ्या स्थितीमुळे सोल्यूटेक्शना कमी होण्यामुळे हो सकता है.

सोडियम मूत्रद्रव्यांचे प्रमाण याचे रक्त पातळीच्या संबंधात मूल्यांकन करणे आवश्यक आहे. शरीर सामान्यत: जास्त सोडियम बाहेर टाकते, म्हणून मूत्रांतील एकाग्रता वाढवता येते कारण ते रक्ताने वाढविले जाते. जेव्हा शरीर जास्त सोडियम सोडत असेल तेव्हा हे मूत्रात देखील बघितले जाऊ शकते; या प्रकरणात, रक्त पातळी सामान्य ते कमी असेल. अपुरे प्रवेशामुळे रक्त सोडियम पातळी कमी असल्यास, मूत्र देखील कमी होईल.

कमी होणारे मूत्र सोडियम पातळी निर्जलीकरण, कँजेस्टिव्ह हृदय अपयश, यकृत रोग, किंवा नेफ्रोटिक सिंड्रोम दर्शवू शकते.
वाढलेला मूत्र सोडियम पातळी मूत्रपिंड वापर किंवा अॅडिसन रोग दर्शवू शकते.
इतर इलेक्ट्रोलाइट्सच्या संबंधात सोडियम पातळीचे मूल्यांकन वारंवार केले जाते आणि अॅयनियन फाईपच्या प्रमाणात मोजण्यासाठी याचा वापर केला जाऊ शकतो.