What is Sodium?
Sodium is a key electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance, and allows your muscles to contract and nerves to communicate.
Because sodium plays such a central role in the body, even small changes in its levels can trigger noticeable symptoms or signal more serious underlying kidney problems or other health issues.
Everything from stress and exercise to aging and medications can impact sodium levels. Older adults tend to be more vulnerable to sodium imbalances due to higher medication use and changes in kidney function.1,2
Why Does Sodium Matter?
Sodium does far more than reflect hydration. It offers insight into how well your body maintains balance under everyday demands and physiological stress.
Healthy sodium levels:
- Help cells and tissues function properly by maintaining proper hydration
- Improve circulation by supporting blood volume and blood pressure
- Help muscles contract, including the heart muscle
- Support movement and cognitive function by enabling nerve and muscle signaling
- Provide clues about adrenal and hormonal resilience, especially during prolonged physical or psychological stress3,4
- Reflect kidney health and filtration efficiency, showing how well the body retains what it needs and removes what it doesn’t
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How to Interpret Sodium Levels
(Ranges may vary slightly by lab)
Standard reference ranges represent the middle 95% of healthy individuals but don’t necessarily reflect levels associated with longevity. Optimal ranges are derived from clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and real-world outcomes data, with an emphasis on levels associated with peak functioning and reduced disease risk.
Benefits of Optimizing Sodium
- Improved cognitive function and focus
- Improved physical endurance and performance
- Reduced long-term strain on the heart and arteries
- Reduced risk of osteoporosis5
- Increased life expectancy6
- Decreased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease
- Improved vascular function
- Supports both hydration status and cardiovascular resilience over time
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Low Sodium Levels (Hyponatremia)
Low sodium levels in the blood disrupt water balance in the brain, leading to brain cell swelling and alterations in brain function.
Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Loss of energy
- Drowsiness
- Restlessness and irritability
- Muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps
- Confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
Causes:
- Drinking too much water
- Certain medications (e.g., water pills, antidepressants, pain medications)
- Heart, kidney, and liver problems
- Chronic or severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Adrenal insufficiency/Addison’s disease
- Recreational drug use
Healthspan Impacts:
- Increased risk of brain damage
- Memory issues, difficulty concentrating, and mild cognitive impairment
- Higher risk for falls and fractures in older adults7
- Permanent neurological damage, if left untreated
High Sodium Levels (Hypernatremia)
High sodium levels usually mean there isn’t enough water relative to sodium in the body, which can pull water out of cells and cause dehydration that impacts the brain and nervous system.
Symptoms:
- Extreme thirst
- Urinating very little
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Muscle twitching
- Confusion
- Seizures
Causes:
- Dehydration
- Kidney dysfunction or disease
- A disorder of the adrenal glands
- Diabetes insipidus (uncommon)
- Too much salt intake (rare)
Healthspan Impacts:
How Hone Treats Out of Range Sodium
Your Hone physician will evaluate sodium levels on a blood test alongside potassium, chloride, glucose, kidney markers, symptoms, and overall health to determine the cause of low or high sodium and treatment options.
- Hormone support – to address the root cause of adrenal or pituitary dysfunction
- Intravenous (IV) saline* – to quickly correct severe dehydration
- Diuretics* – to help the kidneys flush out excess sodium
- Mineralocorticoids* – control fluid balance and treat Addison’s disease
*Your Hone Physician does not prescribe these treatments but will recommend further evaluation and help coordinate care with your primary care provider when medical treatment is indicated.
- Reduce processed food intake
- Drink to thirst, not fixed water targets
- Increase potassium-rich whole foods (for high sodium levels) like leafy greens, beans, and avocado
- Add electrolytes to water, especially post-exercise or after sweat loss
- Avoid ultra-low salt diets, particularly if you’re active
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Get adequate protein intake (low-protein diets worsen low sodium)
Filippatos, T.D. et al. (2017). Hyponatremia in the elderly: Challenges and solutions. Clinical Interventions in Aging.
↑Schlanger, L. E., Bailey, J. L., & Sands, J. M. (2010). Electrolytes in the Aging. Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease.
↑Scott J.H., Menouar M.A., Dunn R.J. (2023). Physiology, Aldosterone. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
↑Costello, H.M., et al. (2022). High salt intake activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, amplifies the stress response, and alters tissue glucocorticoid exposure in mice. Cardiovascular Research.
↑Takase, H., et al. (2023). Excessive salt intake reduces bone density in the general female population. European Journal of Clinical Investigation.
↑Messerli, F.H. et al. (2020). Sodium intake, life expectancy, and all-cause mortality. European Heart Journal.
↑Lobo-Rodríguez, C. et al. (2025). Effectiveness of an Early Intervention in Mild Hyponatremia to Prevent Accidental Falls in Hospitalized Older Adults—A Crossover Ecological Clinical Trial. Healthcare.
↑Cook, N. R., Appel, L. J., & Whelton, P. K. (2016). Sodium Intake and All-Cause Mortality Over 20 Years in the Trials of Hypertension Prevention. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
↑Surma, S., et al. (2025). High Salt Intake and Atherosclerosis Progression—Not Only via Blood Pressure: A Narrative Review. Nutrients.
↑Farquhar, W.B., et al. (2015). Dietary Sodium and Health: More Than Just Blood Pressure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
↑Imash, D., Gusmanov, A., & Chan, M. Y. (2025). High salt intake and bone health in postmenopausal women: Exposing the lack of studies – a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
↑Houston, M. (2011). The Role of Magnesium in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
↑Cervellin, G. et al. (2015). Association of Hyponatremia and Hypovitaminosis D in Ambulatory Adults. Journal of Medical Biochemistry.
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Reviewed for Accuracy by Our Medical Review Board
This biomarker information has been reviewed by a member of Hone’s medical review board. As part of the medical review team, physicians fact-check this content against the latest research and their own experience treating their patients.
Ashley Winter, M.D., is a board-certified urogynecologist trained at Weill Cornell and Cleveland Clinic. She specializes in female and male sexual dysfunction, urinary issues, genital pain, and hormone therapy.
James Staheli, D.O., is the Medical Director for Broad Health, Hone Health’s affiliated medical practice and a family medicine doctor in Atlanta, Georgia.
