Sodium (Na) In Blood: Results
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Results
A sodium test checks how much sodium (an electrolyte and a mineral) is in the blood. Normal values may vary from lab to lab. Results are ready in 1 day.
Blood, Adult: | 136–145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 136–145 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) |
|---|---|
Blood, Children: | 138–145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 138–145 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) |
Many conditions can affect sodium levels. Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your symptoms and medical history.
High values
- High sodium levels (hypernatremia) can be caused by a high-sodium diet or by not drinking enough water and being dehydrated. Dehydration may also be caused by severe vomiting or diarrhea, Cushing's syndrome, kidney disease or injury, diabetic ketoacidosis, or a condition called diabetes insipidus that makes it hard to balance the water level in the body.
- High sodium levels can also be caused by high levels of the hormone aldosterone (hyperaldosteronism).
Low values
- Low sodium levels (hyponatremia) can be caused by a lot of sweating, burns, severe vomiting or diarrhea, drinking too much water (psychogenic polydipsia), or poor nutrition.
- Low sodium levels can also be caused by underactive adrenal glands or thyroid gland, heart failure, kidney disease, cirrhosis, cystic fibrosis, or SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion).
| Last updated: | September 18, 2008 |
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology |
| Editors: | Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer |
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