Changes to Sodium Concentration in The Human Body?! Good and Bad
Sodium {Na} is an important -- if not the most important, ion in our cells-- responsible for regulating blood pressure. Sodium is pervasive and important for normal functioning of biological processes across multiple organ systems.
This includes the action potential event in the cardiovascular system. In the renal system, sodium occurs in the reabsorption of nutrients (i.e. glucose, amino acids) and ions (Cl-, bicarbonate, Mg2+, Ca2+ ) via primary or secondary active transport by direct and indirect methods along the tubules of the nephron.
The disadvantage to sodium fluctuations results in electrolyte dys-regulation and the effects are widespread across multiple organ systems. This can manifests in pathological conditions such as tachyarrhythmias (faster heart rate >100 bpm) as seen in sudden cardiac death, and Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) that occurs with reduced blood flow to the brain from suddenly standing up (1) (2).
Wagner, S., Maier, L. S., & Bers, D. M. (2015). Role of sodium and calcium dysregulation in tachyarrhythmias in sudden cardiac death. Circulation research, 116(12), 1956–1970. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.304678
Wells, R., Spurrier, A. J., Linz, D., Gallagher, C., Mahajan, R., Sanders, P., … Lau, D. H. (2017). Postural tachycardia syndrome: current perspectives. Vascular health and risk management, 14, 1–11. doi:10.2147/VHRM.S127393