Sodium near me in Jalandhar
The Sodium test measures the amount of sodium in the blood. It is available at an affordable price in Jalandhar with Tata 1mg labs. Sodium is an essential electrolyte that helps regulate water balance, maintain blood volume, and ensure proper functioning of the nerves and muscles. This test is done as part of a routine health checkup to evaluate your overall health. It can help diagnose and monitor conditions that affect the body's water balance, such as dehydration, kidney or liver disease, or heart failure.
Abnormally high levels of sodium, known as hypernatremia, can occur due to excessive water loss or high sodium intake. It may cause symptoms like thirst, agitation, or restlessness. Conversely, lower-than-normal levels of sodium, or hyponatremia, could indicate conditions like kidney disease or heart failure and may result in symptoms like nausea, headache, confusion, or seizures.
Understanding Sodium
Sodium is an important electrolyte present in all body fluids. It performs functions like controlling the amount of fluid in your body and balancing the body's pH level. It also helps your nerves and muscles to work properly. Therefore, an optimal amount of sodium is essential for regular body functioning. Deviation in sodium levels can cause hypernatremia (high amount of sodium) or hyponatremia (low amount of sodium), which may need a doctor's attention.
Your doctor may advise the Sodium test if you experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, excessive thirst, decreased frequency of urination, muscle spasms and cramps, irritability, confusion, and seizures. This test may be used to investigate the cause of dehydration and generalized body swelling. It can also be advised if your blood pressure is not well-controlled. Usually, no special preparation is required for a Sodium test; eat and drink as per your daily routine.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, decide whether or not medication will be required to manage your health and formulate your overall treatment plan.
What does Sodium measure?
The Sodium test measures the amount of sodium in your body. Sodium is present in all body fluids and is found in the highest concentration in the extracellular fluid. The body absorbs the required amount of sodium through dietary salts, and the kidneys eliminate the remaining sodium. The body keeps your blood sodium within a regular and steady range by following three mechanisms:
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By producing hormones that control the elimination of sodium through urine, such as natriuretic peptides and aldosterone.
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By producing hormones that prevent water loss, such as antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
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By controlling thirst (an increase in blood sodium level can make you thirsty and cause you to drink water, returning your sodium to normal).
These mechanisms regulate the amount of water and sodium in the body and control blood pressure by keeping the amount of water in check. When the sodium level in the blood changes, the water content in your body changes. These changes can be associated with dehydration, edema, and changes in blood pressure.