Hyponatremia in the Elderly
Journal Title: Annals of Geriatric Education and Medical Sciences - Year 2016, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Hyponatremia, serum sodium <135 mMol/L, is the commonest electrolyte imbalance encountered in clinical practice. It is associated with multiple poor clinical outcomes including falls, fractures, increased length of hospital stay, institutionalisation and mortality. Management of abnormalities in water homeostasis is frequently challenging. Because age-related changes and chronic diseases are often associated with impairment of water metabolism in elderly patients, it is absolutely essential for clinicians to be aware of the pathophysiology of hyponatremia and hypernatremia in the elderly. The sensation of thirst, renal function, concentrating abilities and hormonal modulators of salt and water balance are often impaired in the elderly, which makes such patients highly susceptible to morbid and iatrogenic events involving salt and water. Clinicians should use a systematic approach in evaluating water and sodium problems, utilizing a comprehensive history and physical examination, and a few directed laboratory tests to make the clinical diagnosis. Furthermore, clinicians should have a clear appreciation of the roles that iatrogenic interventions and lapses in nutrition and nursing care frequently play in upsetting the homeostatic balance in elderly patients, particularly those who are in long-term institutional and inpatient settings.
Authors and Affiliations
NS Neki, Gagandeep Singh Shergill, Amritpal Singh, Amanpreet Kaur, Amandeep Singh Dhanju, Aarti Vaid
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP240955
- DOI -
- Views 84
- Downloads 0
Impacted incisor – A rare finding
When the incisors do not erupt at normal time, it becomes mandatory to find the cause behind their eruption failure and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Impaction of maxillary permanent incisors is uncommon, but...
A morphological and morphometric study of human calcanei and their articular facets
Introduction Calcaneum is the longest strongest and biggest of all the tarsal bones of the proximal row Anterior and posterior articulations between the calcaneus and talus form a functional unit termed the talocalcaneal...
Health and longevity in relation to CHD risk factors in a tribal population of India
High prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease CHD in parallel with economic development is observed among South Asian Countries It is very much surprise to observe a tribal population of Kerala Kurichias India are having len...
Commensal and pathogen: Candida albicans
Candida albicans is ubiquitous, dimorphic yeast which resides in oral cavity as commensal. But it also acts as pathogen under certain specific circumstances and causing most common infection of oral cavity called oral th...
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A reversible cardiomyopathy Camouflage of Acute coronary syndrome
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is an uncommon form of acute cardiomyopathy showing left ventricular apical ballooning. Its clinical characteristics resemble those of a myocardial infarct, while its imaging characteristic...