hyponatremia

Friendly

Hyponatremia is a medical term that refers to having an abnormally low level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is an important mineral that helps keep the body's fluids balanced, and it is crucial for proper nerve and muscle function.

Simple Explanation:

• What it is: Hyponatremia means there isn't enough sodium in your blood.
• Why it's important: Sodium helps the body maintain the right amount of water. When there is too little sodium, it can cause health problems.

Usage Instructions:

• You would use "hyponatremia" in medical contexts, such as when talking about health conditions or discussing someone's lab results.
• It is a noun and is used as follows: "The patient was diagnosed with hyponatremia."

Example Sentence:

• "After running a marathon without drinking enough fluids, he developed hyponatremia, which made him feel very weak."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical discussions, you might hear phrases like "hyponatremic patients" to refer to patients who have this condition or "treatment of hyponatremia" when discussing how to correct the sodium levels.

Word Variants:

• Hyponatremic (adjective): Used to describe someone who has hyponatremia.
  • Example: "The hyponatremic patient required immediate treatment."

Different Meanings:

• In a broader sense: While "hyponatremia" specifically refers to low sodium levels in the blood, it is often discussed in relation to dehydration, which means losing too much water. It can also occur in cases of fluid overload, where there is too much water relative to sodium.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "hyponatremia" in medical terms, but you might describe it as "low sodium levels" in simpler language.

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs related to "hyponatremia," understanding the following can be helpful:
  • "In hot water" can describe being in trouble, but it isn't directly related to hyponatremia. You might use it if someone is experiencing problems due to a lack of sodium.
  • "Run low on" could be used to describe a decrease in sodium levels: "He ran low on sodium after sweating a lot."

Summary:

Hyponatremia is a medical condition caused by low sodium levels in the blood, often linked to dehydration.

Academic

Noun

1. abnormally low level of sodium in the blood; associated with dehydration