Cause 10. Chronic, Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea: The Digestive Pathway to Hyponatremia
Chronic, severe vomiting or diarrhea can lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss, including sodium. When this loss is not adequately replaced, it can result in hyponatremia. This is one of the reasons why rehydration solutions used to treat severe diarrhea or vomiting often contain electrolytes, including sodium.
Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to a significant loss of fluid from the body. This loss can lead to a decrease in blood volume, a condition known as hypovolemia. This decrease in blood volume can stimulate the release of ADH, causing the kidneys to retain water and dilute the sodium in the blood, leading to hyponatremia.
Furthermore, the gastrointestinal tract naturally contains a significant amount of sodium. When a person experiences vomiting or diarrhea, this sodium is lost. If the lost sodium isn’t replaced, it can lead to hyponatremia.(10)
