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Sodium - blood - Results

Alternative Names

Serum sodium

Normal Values:

The normal range for blood sodium levels is 135 to 145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

What abnormal results mean:

Abnormal sodium levels can be due to many different conditions. To help determine the cause, your health care provider will consider the total amount of fluid in your body. This is done by looking at the turgor of your skin and swelling in the ankles, feet, and legs.

For greater than normal sodium levels (hypernatremia):

  • If the amount of fluid in your body is low, you may have fluid loss due to excessive sweating, diarrhea, use of diuretics, or burns.
  • If your total body water is normal, high sodium levels may be due diabetes insipidus (too little of the hormone vasopressin).
  • If your total body water is high, this may indicate hyperaldosteronism, Cushing syndrome, or a diet that's too high in salt or sodium bicarbonate.

For lower than normal sodium levels (hyponatremia):

Additional conditions for which the test may be performed include:

  • Reviewed last on: 11/15/2009
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Shorecki K, Ausiello D. Disorders of sodium and water homeostasis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 117.

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