When people are incarcerated in Texas jails, they don’t lose their right to receive needed healthcare. Countless families have sought to hold jails accountable when their loved ones die while incarcerated due to alleged medical neglect. In jail settings, when an inmate has died, hypernatremia and hyponatremia are among the conditions that have been characterized as preventable causes of death.

What is Hypernatremia?

Whereas hyponatremia is a medical term describing a lack of an adequate amount of sodium in the bloodstream, hypernatremia is the opposite condition. Sodium, one of the body’s electrolytes, is mostly contained in our blood, and it is essential for many bodily functions. Too much sodium, however, creates an imbalance of electrolytes, which can result in serious health problems that can lead to death.

The Role of Sodium in the Body

Sodium regulates blood pressure, blood volume, the electrical conductivity of the cells in your body, and the pH level. An important nutrient, sodium is also vital to the way our nerves and muscles work. Our kidneys also have a role because they help to regulate the amount of sodium in our bodies. Most of the sodium that enters our bodies is removed through urine, while the rest, a small amount, is removed through our sweat.

Learn more in Part 1 and this ongoing series.

Making accusations against persons or institutions is never an intention on this website. This site is intended as a helpful resource for the benefit of local Texas inmates detained in county and city jails.

–Guest Contributor