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Sodium is the primary electrolyte within the body (90%).
Sodium is active in:
- Acid-base balance
- Nerve conduction
- Oncotic pressure balance
Sodium is excreted in the urine. Despite fairly wide ranges in dietary
intake of sodium, the kidney maintains a narrow range of serum sodium
levels.
Sodium levels may rise in the presence of:
- Dehydration
- Diabetes insipidus
- Conn's Syndrome
- Primary Aldosteronism
Sodium levels may fall in the presence of:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Prolonged gastric suction
- Edema
- Ascites
- Excessive hydration
- Severe burns
- Malnutrition
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Diuretics
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Normal Values*
| Men |
135-138 mEq/L |
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Women
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136-145 mEq/L |
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Pregnancy
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130-140 mEq/L |
*These are general values taken from a variety of
sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one
type of testing protocol to another.
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