Hyponatremia Center - Augusta, GAAugusta Internist Doctors for HyponatremiaType of Physician: Internist What is a Internist? A certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners provide long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common illnesses and complex problems for adolescents, adults, and the elderly. General internists are trained in primary care internal medicine, which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treatment of problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs. All internists are trained in the subspecialty areas of internal medicine including emergency internal medicine and critical care. Internists consult with surgeons when surgical management is indicated, and often act as consultants to other specialists. Specialty: Internal Medicine Common Name: Internist Doctors in Augusta * Coastal Physicians Group  Cardiovascular Associates Augusta  Augusta Medical Associates  Augusta Medical Associates  Augusta Medical Associates  Infectious Diseases Consultants  University Primary Care  Murari L Garg MD  University Primary Care  University Primary Care  Internal Medicine & Endocrine Assoc  Internal Medicine & Endocrine Assoc  University Primary Care  University Primary Care  Acute Care Consultants Inc  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  MCG Internal Medicine  General Internal Medicine  Medical College of Georgia Hospitalists  Medical College of Georgia Hospitalists  Benjamin L Rucker MD  Cook & Dunagan MDs  Cook & Dunagan MDs  Reginald V Brown MD  Marian Ebron MD  CSRA Medical Associates  CSRA Medical Associates  CSRA Medical Associates  CSRA Medical Associates  Augusta Internal Medicine  Augusta Internal Medicine  Acute Care Consultants Inc  Augusta Preventive Cardiology  Neumann & Newman MDs  Neumann & Newman MDs  Summerville Internal Medicine Group  Internal Medicine Partners  Internal Medicine Partners  Internal Medicine Partners  CSRA Internal Medicine Associates PC  CSRA Internal Medicine Associates PC  Robert A Price MD PC  Diane K Smith MD  Augusta Renal Physicians PC  MCG Medical Associates Primary Care  West Augusta Internal Medicine Associates  Michael J Cohen MD  MCG Medical Associates Primary Care  Augusta Renal Physicians PC  Urgent MD LLC  Urgent MD LLC  Urgent MD LLC  Fredrick C House MD PC  Masters of Clinical Research  Brian G Cox MD PC  Acute Care Consultants Inc  George C Pursley MD  Westside Medical Center  P M & R Specialists  University Medical Associates LLP  Evans Medical Group  Evans Medical Group  University Medical Associates LLP  Georgia Internal Medicine  Georgia Internal Medicine  University Medical Associates LLP  University Medical Associates LLP  University Medical Associates LLP  University Medical Associates LLP  University Medical Associates LLP  University Medical Associates LLP  Gastroenterology Consultants of Augusta PC  Gastroenterology Consultants of Augusta PC  Gastroenterology Consultants of Augusta PC  Judieth E Baker-Brown MD  Gilbert W Banks MD  Medical Specialists Inc  Wrens Physicians Health Group  McDuffie Medical Associates PC  McDuffie Medical Associates PC  M Frank Powell MD PC  Mary M Powell MD  Heywood K Gay MD  Tri County Health System  Washington Internal Medicine  MedLink  Sandersville Community Health Center  Vijitha P Prasad MD  Linus O Ejim MD  Mark Harvey MD Augusta, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-17
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Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium)Read the Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium) article » What is hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?Hyponatremia refers to a lower-than-normal level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal function of the nervous system. Hyponatremia has sometimes been referred to as "water intoxication," especially when it is due to the consumption of excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium. Sodium is the major positively charged ion (cation) in the fluid outside of cells of the body. The chemical notation for sodium is Na. When combined with chloride (Cl), the resulting substance is table salt (NaCl). The normal blood sodium level is 135 - 145 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L), or in international units, 135 - 145 millimoles/liter (mmol/L). Results may vary slightly among different laboratories.
What causes hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?A low sodium level in the blood may result from excess water or fluid in the body, diluting the normal amount of sodium so that the concentration appears low. This type of hyponatremia can be the result of chronic conditions such as kidney failure (when excess fluid cannot be efficiently excreted) and congestive heart failure, in which excess fluid accumulates in the body. SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone) is a disease whereby the body produces too much anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), resulting in retention of water in the body. Consuming excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium, can also result in hyponatremia. Hyponatremia can also result when sodium is lost from the body or when both sodium and fluid are lost from the body, for example, during prolonged sweating and severe vomiting or diarrhea. Medical conditions that can sometimes be associate... Recommended Reading Related to Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium)What Is Heart Failure?Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming more stiff and thickened. This helps to keep the blood moving for a short while, but in time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are unable to pump as strongly. As a result, the kidneys often respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium. If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe the condition. What Causes Heart Failure?Heart failure is caused b... Other Related Hyponatremia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Augusta
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