Too Much Sodium (Hypernatremia): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate hypernatremia (excess sodium):

  • Nonspecific symptoms: severe thirst* , feeling weak, fatigue, fever, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.
  • Skin and mucous membranes dry* .
  • Oliguria (decreased urine volume with a daily maximum of 500 ml)* .
  • Dyspnea (shortness of breath, as a result of pulmonary edema/water accumulation in the lungs)* * .
  • Edema (water retention), peripheral.
  • Neurological symptoms* /* * :
    • Cephalgia (headache).
    • Muscular fasciculations (involuntary movements of very small muscle groups).
    • Hyperexcitability (hyperexcitability of the central nervous system) to seizures.
    • Confusion and impaired consciousness:
      • Somnolence (drowsiness with abnormal sleepiness).
      • Coma (severe deep unconsciousness characterized by lack of response to address)

* In hypovolemic hypernatremia* * In hypervolemic hypernatremia.

Symptomatology of hypernatremia over time.

> 48 h, chronic < 48 h, acute
Headache Cerebral seizures
Impaired concentration Rhabdomyolysis
Lethargy Annihilation headache
Coma Cerebral hemorrhage
Muscle weakness Coma