De leon with serum sodium
POLYDIPSIA IS A condition in which individuals consume excessive amounts of liquids, which places them at risk for life-threatening hyponatremia. The volume consumed ranges from 3,000 to 10,000 cubic centimeters (10 liters) of fluid per day (Verghese, De Leon, & Josiassen, 1996). The condition of polydipsia can be either chronic or episodic and symptoms range from mild to severe (De Leon, Verghese, Tracy, Josiassen, & Simpson, 1994). In some individuals, polydipsia is coupled with impaired water elimination resulting in water intoxication or acute hyponatremic episodes (serum sodium falls below 135 mEq/L; Shutty, Hundley, Leadbetter, Vieweg, & Hill, 1992). Polydipsia and ...