What is it?
Sodium is a mineral that is one of the key salts or electrolytes in your body. Sodium is absolutely vital as it is necessary for nerve impulses, muscle contraction, and maintaining the fluid balance in the body.
Reference ranges
If your indicative sodium concentration is lower than the reference range for our laboratory:
Sodium levels being low can be problematic. When the sodium level in your blood is too low, extra water goes into your cells and makes the cells swell. This swelling can be dangerous. Additionally, the causes can be due to increased intake of water, i.e. dilution, or indeed a kidney problem, where sodium is not processed in normal quantities.
You can discuss this result with your GP.
If your indicative sodium concentration is higher than the reference range for our laboratory:
This may be a sign of several conditions, such as dehydration, where not enough liquid is introduced into the body, or diarrhoea, where the body loses too much liquid, as well as some diuretics medicines.
Other causes may be an improper function of the adrenal glands or a kidney disorder
You can discuss this result with your GP.
