Q:
Too much sodium in
your diet is bad. Can you have too
little sodium in your diet? What are the
side effects?
A:
A low blood sodium level is called Hyponatremia.
Common reasons for Hyponatremia:
•
Excess water in the body which dilutes the normal sodium
concentration
–
From consuming large amounts of water during strenuous
exercise
–
From chronic diseases like kidney failure or heart
failure that lead to water retention
•
Prolonged sodium loss due to sweating, vomiting, or
diarrhea
•
Medical conditions such as Cirrhosis or Addison's
disease
•
Or medications such as diuretics
Side effects of prolonged/chronic Hyponatremia:
•
Headaches
•
Weakness
•
Muscle cramps
•
Diminish mental acuteness
Notice that a regular diet low in sodium is not a common
reason for Hyponatremia. As a matter of
fact, the CDC has concluded that 90% of children and 89% of adults in the United States
consume more than the recommended limits for sodium. The main culprits are eating out, processed
food, and pre-packaged foods. Too little
sodium from nutritional habits is usually not an issue.
The following websites were used in answering the question:
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