Word parts
What it means
Too much sodiumSOH-dee-umA mineral in the blood that controls how water moves in the body and helps nerves and muscles work.Full entry in the blood compared with water. It usually means the body has lost water or not taken in enough, as in an older adult who cannot drink on their own, with fever, sweating, vomiting or diarrhea, or with diabetes insipidus; less often, too much sodium was given. Signs include strong thirst, dry and sticky mucous membranes, restlessness, confusion, muscle twitching and, when severe, seizures.
For the nurse
Measure intake and output, weigh daily and watch for changes in mental status. The level must be brought down slowly as ordered, because correcting it too fast can make the brain swell.
Remember it
Hyper is high; natr is sodium (Na): high sodium.
At a glance
| Spanish | hipernatremia |
|---|---|
| Also written | hypernatraemia, hypernatremic |
Easy to confuse with
hyponatremia
A blood sodium level below normal, under 135 mEq/L.
Related terms
dehydration
A state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in.
electrolyte
A mineral that carries an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride.
intake and output
The measured record of all fluids a client takes in and all fluids that leave the body over a set time.
sodium
A mineral in the blood that controls how water moves in the body and helps nerves and muscles work.
-emia
A word ending that means a condition of the blood, or something in the blood.
hyper-
A word beginning that means above, over or more than normal.