The key difference between hypernatremia and hyponatremia is that hypernatremia is a medical condition where the sodium level in the blood is higher than normal, while hyponatremia is a medical condition where the sodium level in the blood is below normal.
Sodium blood test and sodium urine test measure the concentration of sodium levels in the blood and urine, respectively. They are very important biochemical tests to assess kidney function. The normal blood sodium level range is 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). However, the sodium level in the blood can change abnormally due to different reasons. Hypernatremia and hyponatremia are two medical conditions that are due to abnormal sodium levels in the blood.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hypernatremia
3. What is Hyponatremia
4. Similarities – Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia
5. Hypernatremia vs Hyponatremia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hypernatremia vs Hyponatremia
What is Hypernatremia?
Hypernatremia is a medical condition characterized by too much sodium in the blood. Sodium is a very important element for the proper functioning of body organs. It is found in the blood. It is also a necessary part of the lymph fluids and body cells. The primary causes of hypernatremia include not enough fluid (water) intake and too much fluid loss, both of which lead to insufficient liquid in the blood. The health conditions that trigger hypernatremia are dehydration, vomiting, kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, diabetes insipidus, extreme diarrhoea, dementia, delirium, and fever. The symptoms of hypernatremia may include excessive thirst, lethargy, extreme fatigue, lack of energy, confusion, twitching or spasms, seizures, and coma.
Figure 01: Management of Hypernatremia
Moreover, hypernatremia can be diagnosed through medical history, physical symptoms, blood tests, and urine tests. Blood tests and urine tests are very fast and minimally invasive tests that require no preparation. Furthermore, treatment options for hypernatremia may include correcting the fluid and sodium balance by increasing fluid intake, intravenous fluid, medications to manage signs and symptoms of hypernatremia, and addressing underlying conditions.
What is Hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is a medical condition where the sodium level in the blood is lower than normal. This condition is often due to too much water in the body, which dilutes the sodium level. It is also possible to lose too much sodium from the body and cause hyponatremia. The risk factors for hyponatremia include kidney failure, congestive heart failure, diseases affecting the lungs, liver, or brain, conditions associated with hormone levels and endocrine system, having had surgery, medications like diuretics and antidepressants, untreated diarrhoea, and taking too much alcohol. The signs and symptoms of this condition include muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, headache, and mental status changes.
Moreover, hyponatremia can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, urine tests, thyroid function tests, and cardiac investigations. Furthermore, treatment options for hyponatremia may include limiting water intake, adjusting or stopping medications or adding newer medications and addressing salt to the normal diet, intravenous replacement of sodium, medications like tolvaptan or conivaptan to correct blood sodium level, and treating underlying conditions.
What are the Similarities Between Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia?
- Hypernatremia and hyponatremia are two medical conditions that are due to abnormal sodium levels in the blood.
- Both conditions are mainly caused due to changes in water volume in the body.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, and urine tests.
- They are mainly treated by adjusting the water volume in the body and managing underlying conditions.
What is the Difference Between Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia?
Hypernatremia is a medical condition where the sodium level in the blood is higher than normal, while hyponatremia is a medical condition where the sodium level in the blood is normal than normal. Thus, this is the key difference between hypernatremia and hyponatremia. Furthermore, hypernatremia is caused by not taking enough water and too much water loss, while hyponatremia is caused by too much water intake or too much sodium loss.
The below infographic presents the differences between hypernatremia and hyponatremia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Hypernatremia vs Hyponatremia
Hypernatremia and hyponatremia are two medical conditions that are due to abnormal sodium levels in the blood, which mainly occur because of changes in liquid or water volume in the body. Hypernatremia occurs when the sodium level in the blood is higher than normal. Hyponatremia occurs when the sodium level in the blood is lower than normal. So, this is the key difference between hypernatremia and hyponatremia.
Reference:
1.“Hyponatremia: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Hypernatremia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Management of Hypernatremia” By en:User:HarishV – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
