Inmate medical care in municipal and county Texas jails is complained about by local detainees more than any other topic. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has reported this statistic year after year. Among the specific health conditions that come up in connection with custodial deaths in jails across the U.S. are hyponatremia and hypernatremia.

What is Hyponatremia?

Hyponatremia is a health condition that occurs when there is a lower-than-normal sodium level in the bloodstream. Oftentimes, consuming too much water is the cause of hyponatremia, and it happens because the excess water dilutes sodium levels. People who run on hot days or run in long races lose salt and water in their sweat. As a result, they drink water in excess. The combination of sweating excessively and drinking a lot of water can be deadly because the amount of sodium in the body is diminished by both activities.

Besides too much water in your body, there are many potential causes of hyponatremia. People who are most at risk for developing hyponatremia are individuals who:

• Have congestive heart failure.
• Have suffered kidney failure.
• Are suffering from diseases that affect the liver, lungs, or brain.
• Have conditions related to the endocrine system and hormone levels.
• Have had surgery.
• Take certain medications, such as some types of diuretics or various kinds of antidepressants.

Hyponatremia is a very common condition. In fact, it is the most common type of chemical abnormality seen among patients in hospitals and outpatient clinics.

Learn more in this ongoing series.

There is never an intention on this site to suggest that wrongdoing has occurred on the part of persons or entities. This website’s purpose is to provide resources helpful to local inmates in Texas municipal and county jails.

–Guest Contributor