Global warming is a serious problem not only for the environment but also for human health. According to a Swedish study, the sudden climate change with increasingly persistent global warming, it could cause increased hospitalizations for low blood sodium levels, a condition called iponatriemia.
According to research conducted by Karolinska Institutet of Stockholm published on Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolismthe two degrees Celsius temperature increase in line with climate projections for 2050 could increase hospitalizations for hyponatremia by nearly 14%. It is important to know that the human body needs sodium to maintain normal blood pressure to support nerve and muscle functions and regulate the level of fluid in cells, but its concentration is a delicate balance.
What are the symptoms of hyponatremia? The first to appear they are drowsiness, lethargy, mental confusion, vomiting, nausea and convulsions up to coma. Drinking too much water or sweating too much can lead to this condition. Furthermore, taking diuretics also does not help as they increase the secretion of water and sodium, especially in the elderly. The Swedish study also found that heat is an extremely important factor: it exists 10 times greater risk hospitalization on warmer days than on colder ones. For those over 80, the risk is even 15 times higher.