If you have more sodium in your blood, it will cause more water to enter your bloodstream. That's why eating too much salt can make high blood pressure more likely. Hypernatremia, or high sodium in the blood, often stems from losing too much water or gaining too much sodium, leading to an imbalance in your body.

Understanding the Context

Symptoms of hypernatremia include excessive... If you eat too much sodium, more water enters your bloodstream. The greater volume of blood pushes against blood vessel walls, causing high blood pressure (hypertension). What is hypernatremia?

Key Insights

Read on to learn about the definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment of excessively high sodium levels in the blood. Key points Sodium and potassium are electrolytes that help your body maintain fluid and blood volume. Consuming too much sodium and too little potassium can raise your blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. A high sodium level in the blood can cause brain dysfunction and, in severe cases, death.

Final Thoughts

Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options. High sodium levels in your blood can cause serious health problems ranging from mild symptoms like thirst and weakness to severe complications including confusion and seizures. Hypernatremia is when the sodium level in the blood is too high. Sodium is an essential electrolyte for the human body. However, having very high or very low levels of sodium in the body can be dangerous. Electrolytes help regulate the flow of nutrients and other products into and out of cells.