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What Causes Dizziness With Low Magnesium And Sodium Levels In Blood Post Injury?
Question: My husband passed out on August 15 and fell and hit his head on concrete. He was severely dehydrated, his magnesium was low and one of his high blood pressure medications had to be changed. He spent the night in the hospital because of a concussion. His blood pressure in the emergency room was dropping part of the time to 80 over 50 when he would stand up. Needless to say he was getting dizzy. His magnesium is now back to normal and now his sodium is low. He is still getting dizzy. Is this normal?
Brief Answer:
Low levels of sodium are not normal.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
It is not normal for a person to have low blood levels of any of the electrolytes.
Dizziness may be related at least partially, to low sodium levels, and very low levels could cause even consciousness alterated, or seizures.
Sodium could be low because of blood pressure drugs such diuretics and/or poor diet intake.
There is need to correct slowly the sodium levels, first by increasing diet intake with food containing salt.
You should also discuss with your husband's Doctor about changing or reducing any of the drugs that may cause this lowering.
Concussion symptoms don't last that long, maybe reevaluating the head injury may be necessary with imaging such head CT scan, if it was not performed previously.
Blood pressure values also should be maintained between normal values in order to recover dizziness sooner.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care.
Low levels of sodium are not normal.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
It is not normal for a person to have low blood levels of any of the electrolytes.
Dizziness may be related at least partially, to low sodium levels, and very low levels could cause even consciousness alterated, or seizures.
Sodium could be low because of blood pressure drugs such diuretics and/or poor diet intake.
There is need to correct slowly the sodium levels, first by increasing diet intake with food containing salt.
You should also discuss with your husband's Doctor about changing or reducing any of the drugs that may cause this lowering.
Concussion symptoms don't last that long, maybe reevaluating the head injury may be necessary with imaging such head CT scan, if it was not performed previously.
Blood pressure values also should be maintained between normal values in order to recover dizziness sooner.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
A CT scan was performed and they said it was normal. He is taking 2 (10 mg.) of Bystolic in the morning as well as 1 (5 mg.) of Amlodipine Besylate in the morning for high blood pressure. He is also taking 1 (160 mg.) of Valsartan for high blood pressure in the evening. Could any of these be the cause of his electrolytes being low? What could cause first his magnesium and then his sodium to be low? He has never had a problem with either one of these being anything but normal in the past.
Brief Answer:
Low levels of electrolytes could be caused by poor intake too.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for being on follow up.
Unless medications you mentioned are not combined with diuretics, they don't cause any significant alteration in electrolytes levels.
In this case, low magnesium and low sodium could be related to poor intake with the food, or excessive loss by vomiting or continued sweating.
Hope I helped you.
Take care.
Low levels of electrolytes could be caused by poor intake too.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for being on follow up.
Unless medications you mentioned are not combined with diuretics, they don't cause any significant alteration in electrolytes levels.
In this case, low magnesium and low sodium could be related to poor intake with the food, or excessive loss by vomiting or continued sweating.
Hope I helped you.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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