Patient/caregiver was educated on side effects of high sodium as follows:
- Sodium has the tendency to hold and retain fluid in the body, thus increasing the blood volume. Increased blood volume due to high sodium levels will exert more pressure on the blood vessels and contributes to elevated blood pressure.
- Increased blood volume and elevated blood pressure with increased body sodium can result in increased risk for stroke.
- Increased blood volume and elevated blood pressure, secondary to high sodium levels, can result in additional workload on the heart and eventually contribute towards development of heart failure.
- Poorly controlled blood pressure secondary to high sodium levels can damage blood vessels supplying oxygen and nutrition to all the vital organs in the body, such as, heart, kidney, and brain. This damage to blood vessels can result in reduced blood supply and lead to compromised function of all the vital organs.
- Compromised blood supply to the heart can lead to increased risk for chest pain and heart attack. Compromised blood supply to the brain can lead to increased risk for stroke and dementia. Reduced blood supply to the kidneys can progressively diminish the renal function, leading to chronic kidney disease and renal failure.
