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Sodium is a small but mighty mineral that plays a large role in your overall health. Sodium ensures fluid balance, is important for nerve function, and enables your muscles, including the heart muscle, to work properly. But sodium imbalances in the blood can cause serious health issues. This is why your doctor may recommend a blood sodium test.
A blood sodium test, also known as a serum sodium test, is a standard blood test that determines the level of sodium in your blood. Sodium is one of the necessary electrolytes your body needs to remain balanced.
Your physician may order this test to:
Monitor your overall electrolyte level
Search for signs of confusion, weakness, or swelling
Monitor kidney function or fluid balance
Diagnose certain diseases or endocrine disorders
The sodium test is commonly part of a basic metabolic panel (BMP) or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), which measures various substances in your blood.
Normal level of sodium is between 135 and 145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).
This range represents a healthy balance for most people. Your exact number may vary slightly depending on the lab, but if your results fall between 135 and 145 mEq/L, your sodium levels are generally considered normal.
Drinking too much water (water intoxication)
Diuretic medications (for high blood pressure or swelling)
Hormonal imbalance (e.g., low cortisol or hypothyroidism)
Severe vomiting or diarrhea
SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone secretion)
Read: Kidney Function Tests: Why and When You Need Them
Low sodium affects the brain and nervous system. Symptoms are:
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Confusion
Muscle cramps or weakness
Fatigue
Seizures (in bad cases)
Loss of consciousness or coma (if too low too quickly)
Hyponatremia may be chronic (long-term) or acute (sudden) and require immediate medical attention if severe.
If your blood sodium concentration is higher than 145 mEq/L, you may have hypernatremia.
Dehydration
Over-sweating or high fever
Diarrhea or vomiting (with fluid loss)
Too much salt intake
Diabetes insipidus (a disease that causes too much urination)
Kidney disease
Certain medications (such as corticosteroids or lithium)
Hypernatremia can lead to:
Severe thirst
Restlessness or irritability
Confusion
Dry mouth or skin
Muscle twitching or spasms
Seizures
Coma (in extreme cases or if untreated)
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Sodium helps to regulate:
Fluid balance: Sodium brings water into and out of cells to regulate the body's water level.
Blood pressure: It controls the level of water that stays in your bloodstream, which impacts blood pressure.
Muscle contractions: Muscles, such as the heart muscle, rely on sodium to contract and release.
Nerve function: Sodium supports electrical impulses traveling along nerves.
That's why both too little and too much sodium can create severe health problems.
It's a simple blood test, often done at a NABL-accredited diagnostic lab near you.
Here's what happens:
A technician cleans the site (in most instances, your arm).
A small needle is inserted into a vein to take blood.
Your sample is sent to a lab to be tested.
You usually don't have to fast unless you're having a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). Ask your physician for instructions.
Your doctor may request a sodium test if you have:
Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance (weakness, tiredness, confusion)
Kidney or liver disease
Elevated or low blood pressure
Congestive heart failure
Hormonal problems
Taking long-term diuretics or corticosteroids
Book your Sodium Test Online at Dr. B. Lal Lab
Your treatment is based on the cause and how severe. Choices might include:
Reducing fluid intake
Medication changes (like diuretics)
Sodium supplements
IV fluids with sodium
Treating the underlying cause of low sodium (heart, liver, or kidney disease)
Note: Sudden correction of low sodium is risky and leads to brain damage. That's why doctors slowly and cautiously adjust levels.
Rehydration at a slow pace is the goal. Treatments are:
Increasing water intake
Receiving IV fluids (the proper proportion of sodium and water)
Correcting underlying causes (fever, diarrhea, diabetes insipidus)
Never try to self-regulate sodium imbalances—this can make matters worse.
Sodium balance in your body has less to do with salt and everything to do with staying hydrated and overall health. Here are some hints:
8–10 glasses a day is a reasonable guideline for most adults, but your needs will vary by climate, activity, or disease.
Include foods that are naturally high in sodium, such as:
Dairy products
Eggs
Beets
Celery
Seaweed
Reduce processed and packaged foods, which are usually high in sodium.
If you're salt-sensitive or have hypertension, restrict to < 2,300 mg sodium/day (approximately 1 tsp of salt).
If you're on diuretics or steroids, your doctor might need to monitor your electrolytes more closely.
Generally, the optimal sodium level (135–145 mEq/L) is for:
Both genders of all ages
Children and older adults
Older adults are more vulnerable to:
Hyponatremia, due to medications or poor fluid intake
Hypernatremia, due to dehydration
Your doctor will read your test results considering your age, medication, and health.
Yes. Although many worry about too much salt, the real risk is often poor hydration, medications, or illness.
Pickles, papads, and chutneys
Chips and snack foods
Frozen and canned foods
Processed meats
Cheese and salted butter
Bakery items with baking soda
Water-rich fruits: watermelon, oranges, grapes
Leafy greens
Coconut water
Yogurt and curd
Potatoes (boiled)
Bananas (balance potassium, another electrolyte)
If you’re restricting salt, use herbs, lemon, and natural spices to enhance flavor.
Sodium is required—but like everything, a little goes a long way. Both low and high sodium can cause medical problems, and often they're indications of something worse like kidney disease, hormonal imbalance, or dehydration.
Understand what your sodium test results mean to gain control over your health. If you feel dizzy, confused, or are dehydrated—or suffer from a chronic disease—don't ignore your electrolyte levels.
Drink lots of water, watch your diet, and pay attention to your physician's recommendations to maintain your sodium level in good health and overall health at its best.
Normal level of sodium in adults is 135 to 145 mEq/L.
Yes, it's mild hyponatremia and requires assessment.
Some signs of low sodium are fatigue, confusion, muscle cramps, headache, and in extreme cases—seizures or coma.
Yes. Overhydration thins sodium in the bloodstream and creates hyponatremia.
Sudden sodium level drop can be due to vomiting, diarrhea, heart failure, SIADH, or specific drugs.
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