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Is Sodium Level 160 MEq/L In Blood A Cause For Concern?
Question: Hi. Dr. This question is about my Mom. She is 88 yrs old and has been living in a nursing home for 17 years. She has no chronic or terminal diseases. A week ago she was admitted to the hospital with dehydration and pneumonia. After antibiotics and glucose, she has improved.
My concern is blood work done when she was admitted. Her blood work showed a sodium level of 160. The nurse explained sodium level of 180 would mean death.
What causes a sodium level increase and should we be looking for an underlying disease??
My concern is blood work done when she was admitted. Her blood work showed a sodium level of 160. The nurse explained sodium level of 180 would mean death.
What causes a sodium level increase and should we be looking for an underlying disease??
Brief Answer:
elevated sodium is from dehydration
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear about your mother. She had dehydration and pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized. Upon admission to the hospital her sodium was elevated and that was due to the dehydration. Her sodium would increase because free water in her blood stream was depleted. Once she was rehydrated her sodium level has probably returned to normal. To prevent this in the future she definitely needs to maintain good hydration and drink plenty of fluids during the day. When she is ill it is even more important to hydrate.
There is no reason to look for any additional diseases since she was dehydrated.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
elevated sodium is from dehydration
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear about your mother. She had dehydration and pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized. Upon admission to the hospital her sodium was elevated and that was due to the dehydration. Her sodium would increase because free water in her blood stream was depleted. Once she was rehydrated her sodium level has probably returned to normal. To prevent this in the future she definitely needs to maintain good hydration and drink plenty of fluids during the day. When she is ill it is even more important to hydrate.
There is no reason to look for any additional diseases since she was dehydrated.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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