Hyponatremia Center - Pittsfield, MAPittsfield 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 Pittsfield * Berkshire Care  Mark R Selby DO  Neighborhood Health Center  Pittsfield Medical Associates  Pittsfield Medical Associates  Pittsfield Medical Associates  Neighborhood Health Center  Family Practice Associates  Family Practice Associates  Family Practice Associates  Berkshire Medical Center Dept of Medicine  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Berkshire Medical Group PC  Stoddard Medical  Hillcrest Family Health Center  Hillcrest Family Health Center  Hillcrest Family Health Center  Berkshire Hematology Oncology  Lenox Internal Medicine  Lenox Internal Medicine  Mark J Liponis MD  Suburban Internal Medicine  Suburban Internal Medicine  Suburban Internal Medicine  Adams Internists  Adams Internists  Adams Internists  Adams Internists  Adams Internists  Volunteers In Medicine Berkshires  CHP Health Center  Fairview Internal Medicine  East Mountain Medical Associates  East Mountain Medical Associates  East Mountain Medical Associates  Shaohua Tang MD  Huntington Health Center  Huntington Health Center  Drs Siersma & Muellner  Drs Siersma & Muellner  Mark A Bigda MD  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Northhampton VA New England Medical Center Hospitalist Program  Joshua O Kalter MD  G S Kingra MD  Aleksandr Pugach MD  Pioneer Valley Internal Medicine  Alan Berkenwald MD  Pioneer Valley Internal Medicine  Noble Hospital  Noble Hospital  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Bruce M Cowan MD  Westfield Cardiology LLC  Valley Medical Group  Valley Medical Group  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Peter J Betjemann MD  Cooley Dickinson Hospitalist Program  Cooley Dickinson Hospitalist Program  Cooley Dickinson Hospitalist Program  Mohamed S Kamel MD  Diane DeBenedetto MD  Shawki Kanazi MD  RiverBend Medical Group Westfield Office  RiverBend Medical Group  RiverBend Medical Group Westfield Office  RiverBend Medical Group Westfield Office  RiverBend Medical Group  Edward Dean Stephanie T Osiecki & Andrew Hall MDs  Edward Dean Stephanie T Osiecki & Andrew Hall MDs  Edward Dean Stephanie T Osiecki & Andrew Hall MDs  Northampton Family Practice  Northampton Family Practice  Pioneer Valley Infectious Disease Associates  Jeffrey A Zesiger MD  Family Medicine Associates  Family Medicine Associates  David Alpern MD  Pioneer Valley Family Medicine  Deerfield Internal Medicine  Deerfield Internal Medicine  Richard C McGinn MD  Holyoke Associates In Internal Medicine Inc  Holyoke Medical Center  Glen Bombardier MD  Frank Croke MD Pittsfield, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 a urinalysis?A urinalysis is simply an analysis of the urine. It is a very common test that can be performed in many healthcare settings including doctors' offices, urgent care facilities, laboratories, and hospitals. It is performed by collecting a urine sample from the patient in a specimen cup. Usually only small amounts (30-60 ml's) may be required for urinalysis testing. The sample can be either analyzed in the medical clinic or sent to a laboratory to perform the tests. Urinalysis is abbreviated UA. Urine can be evaluated by its physical appearance (color, cloudiness, odor, clarity), or macroscopic analysis. It can be also analyzed based on its chemical and molecular properties or microscopic assessment. Urinalysis is ordered by doctors for a number of reasons, as follows:
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