Alternative Names & Classifications:
Hyponatremia (CLINICAL)
Description
Sodium is the primary extracellular cation responsible for maintaining blood volume, blood pressure, and osmotic balance across cell membranes. Hyponatremia is rarely caused by dietary restriction alone; it typically results from excess water retention (dilutional hyponatremia) or severe loss through sweat, vomiting, or diuretics. The primary danger lies in the osmotic shifting of water into brain cells, causing cerebral swelling.