BloodTestEasy

Sodium 106 mEq/L

= 106 mmol/L in SI units

Critically low (severe hyponatremia)

Values in this range are generally treated as a medical emergency. If this is a current result, seek medical care immediately.

100121125130135146150155160170106
  • Critically low (severe hyponatremia)
  • Severely low
  • Moderately low
  • Mildly low
  • Normal
  • Borderline high
  • Moderately high
  • Severely high
  • Critically high (severe hypernatremia)
Your band
Critically low (severe hyponatremia) · 1–121 mEq/L
Distance from typical range
29 mEq/L below 135
SI units
106 mEq/L = 106 mmol/L

What 106 mEq/L means

A sodium of 106 mEq/L is critically low. Most labs treat values of 120 or below as a panic result that requires immediate medical attention.

At this level there is too much water relative to sodium in your blood, and water shifts into brain cells, which can cause them to swell. This creates a real risk of confusion, seizures, and coma. The lower the number, the greater the danger — values below about 110 mEq/L are among the most extreme results a lab can report and are almost always accompanied by marked neurological symptoms; a result that low occasionally turns out to be a laboratory artifact (pseudohyponatremia from very high triglycerides or proteins), which the hospital team will check quickly while treating you. Severe hyponatremia is treated in the hospital, and the correction has to be done slowly and carefully — raising sodium too fast can injure the brain (a complication called osmotic demyelination). This is not a value to watch and wait on.

Most US labs report a normal adult sodium range of about 135 to 145 mEq/L (the convention used by MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic); some labs use 136 to 145. Critical (panic) cutoffs vary slightly between labs: sodium at or below 120 mEq/L is widely treated as a critical low, and 160 mEq/L and above as a critical high, though some labs flag highs starting at 155.

Common causes

  • SIADH (the body releasing too much antidiuretic hormone, often from lung or brain conditions, some cancers, or medications)
  • Thiazide diuretics (water pills such as hydrochlorothiazide)
  • Severe or prolonged vomiting and diarrhea
  • Heart failure, cirrhosis, or kidney failure causing water retention
  • Drinking very large amounts of water (including during endurance events)
  • Adrenal insufficiency (low cortisol)
  • Medications such as SSRIs, carbamazepine, or desmopressin
  • Untreated severe hypothyroidism
  • At extremely low values, pseudohyponatremia from very high triglycerides or blood proteins (a lab artifact the hospital will rule out)

Symptoms that can go with it

  • Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
  • Severe headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Extreme drowsiness or difficulty staying awake
  • Muscle weakness or cramps
  • Unsteadiness and falls
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness

Sensible next steps

  1. Seek emergency care now — go to the emergency department, or call 911 if you or the person tested is confused, very drowsy, vomiting repeatedly, or seizing.
  2. Do not try to fix this yourself with salt tablets, sports drinks, or fluid restriction — the speed of correction matters and must be medically supervised.
  3. Bring a complete list of your medications and supplements, especially diuretics, antidepressants, and desmopressin.
  4. Expect repeat blood tests and close monitoring in the hospital while the cause is identified.
  5. Once stable, follow up with your clinician about what caused it and how to prevent it from happening again.

Frequently asked questions

Is 106 mEq/L a normal sodium level?

No. 106 mEq/L is critically low; most labs treat sodium of 120 mEq/L or below as a panic value. This needs emergency evaluation.

Is a sodium level of 106 dangerous?

Yes. 106 mEq/L is a critical result with real risk of seizures and coma. Seek emergency care now.

What causes low blood sodium (hyponatremia)?

Low sodium almost always means too much water relative to sodium, not too little salt in the diet. Common causes include thiazide diuretics (water pills), antidepressants such as SSRIs, drinking large amounts of water, vomiting or diarrhea, SIADH (excess antidiuretic hormone from lung, brain, or medication causes), and heart, liver, kidney, thyroid, or adrenal conditions. Very high blood glucose can also dilute the measured sodium. Your clinician uses urine tests and your fluid status to sort out which applies to you.

Can drinking too much water cause low sodium?

Yes. Drinking water faster than your kidneys can excrete it dilutes your blood sodium — this is water intoxication. It is a known risk during endurance events when people drink heavily without eating, in people who drink very large volumes habitually, and when illness or medications limit how much water the kidneys can release. For most healthy people, drinking to thirst is the safest guide; there is no need to force extreme volumes of water.

Does eating too much salt raise my blood sodium level?

Usually not. A salty diet makes you thirsty and makes your body hold water, which raises blood pressure and causes puffiness — but the blood sodium concentration typically stays normal because thirst and the kidneys rebalance it. High blood sodium (hypernatremia) is almost always a shortage of water rather than an excess of dietary salt. That said, a lower-salt diet is still worthwhile for blood pressure and heart health, which is a separate issue from this test result.

Should I go to the ER for a sodium of 106 mEq/L?

Yes. 106 mEq/L is a critical low value — go to the emergency department now, and call 911 if there is confusion, extreme drowsiness, or a seizure.

Why is my sodium low if I eat plenty of salt?

Because blood sodium is a concentration, not a measure of salt intake. Low sodium nearly always means your body is holding on to extra water that dilutes the sodium — from medications, hormones like ADH, drinking large volumes, or conditions such as heart, liver, or kidney disease. Adding more salt to your food rarely fixes it and can be harmful in some of these conditions, so the right move is finding the cause with your clinician rather than changing your diet on your own.

Check a different Sodium value

Related values on your lab report

Sources

Educational information, not medical advice. Reference ranges vary between labs — always compare with the range printed on your own report and discuss results with your doctor. Full disclaimer