Salt is necessary for the body, but too much can lead to hypernatremia or salt poisoning. Symptoms include excessive thirst, altered mental state, and muscle twitching. Treatment involves restoring proper sodium and fluid balance through intravenous and oral fluids.
Table salt is not only a commonly used seasoning, but also contains sodium, which is a necessary nutrient for the human body. Sodium helps muscles and nerves function properly and ensures that the body maintains the right amount of fluids. However, too much sodium is bad for the body and can also lead to hypernatremia or salt poisoning. Symptoms of this disease include excessive thirst, change in mental status, and muscle twitching or stiffness.
Typically, an individual’s sodium intake alone will not be sufficient to cause hypernatremia, although patients receiving large doses of solutions, such as sodium bicarbonate, may be at risk. More often than not, the condition occurs when people don’t consume enough water or lose excessive amounts of fluid due to conditions including diabetes, severe burns, or even excessive vomiting and diarrhea.
Increased thirst is often an initial symptom of salt poisoning. Thirst is triggered by increased sodium levels in the body. However, many patients experience excessive thirst for only a short time or not at all, and patients already suffering from an altered mental state are less likely to experience this symptom.
Whether this problem comes on very quickly or is very severe, the lack of fluid in the body can affect the brain. In these cases, the brain can actually shrink, often causing enough strain on the organ’s blood vessels for them to rupture and leak blood. These physical changes can cause the patient to become irritable, delirious, or even enter a coma.
If muscles are deprived of fluids, they may also shrink or undergo other changes. This could cause them to twitch uncontrollably, causing a visible tremor. Patients suffering from hypernatremia may also find that their muscles become very stiff, leading to the inability to move their limbs properly.
Treatment options for salt poisoning can vary by patient. Typically, the patient will receive intravenous fluids and oral water to restore proper sodium and fluid balance in the body. This treatment is usually completed within 48 hours, but it is vital that the patient does not get fluids too quickly or slowly. A physician should carefully evaluate the cause, duration, and rate of onset to determine the correct length of time for treatment to be completed. Diabetic patients may also require treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and hormones.
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