More common than you think.
Blocking sodium is common in
- general anesthesia
- regional anesthesia
- local nerve anesthesia, lidocane
Low sodium levels can be seen in
- tingling of extremities.
- loss of nerve function.
- Low blood pressure
- dizziness
- blacking out
Toxins that block sodium
- shell fish paralysis <saxitoxin, others>, puffer fish
- scorpion bites
- alcohol
- ketone sugar (fruit)
- fructans (grains)
Drugs that block sodium:
- diruretics
- hydrochlorothiazide - HCT
- anti-arrhythmic medications
- beta-blockers for high blood pressure
- atenolol, esmolol, propranolol, and metoprolol.
Sodium - Greek word, Natrium - abbreviation, Na
Symptoms of low sodium:
- inability to think
- headaches
- dehydration
- dry skin
- eczema
- dry mouth,
- skin infections
- mucus buildup
- frequent urination
- poor balance
- nausea
- seizures
- confusion
- heart failure
- liver failure
- kidney failure
- blood disorders, anemia
- thick / dense blood, poor circulation
- coma
- low blood sodium <Hyponatremia>
Blood tests for sodium are important
- often in a kidney section for 'electrolytes'
- needs to be in range
- avoid too much
- avoid too little
Oral salt
- Salt is sodium-chloride (NaCl)
- Sodium, Greek word, Natrium (Na)
- WHO - World Health Organization, suggests 2 grams NaCl / day
- One teaspoon salt is 2.3 grams, spread out, not at one time
- Sea salt is loaded with contaminents, especially MSG, avoid
- Table salt is a better choice
- anti-caking agents can be good or bad, see salt page
Information about IV saline in hospitals:
- Normal Saline (NS) is 0.9% salt water
- 250 ml NS contains 2.25 grams NaCl
- 500 ml NS contains 4.5 grams NaCl
- 1,000 ml NS contains 9 grams NaCl
- IV saline is infused slowly
- not rapid, spread out