Hypernatremia is defined as a rise in which of the following?

Hypernatremia is defined as a rise in which of the following?

• A. Blood sodium less than 136 mEq/L.
• B. Blood sodium between 136 and 145 mEq/L.
• C. Excess water relative to salt.
• D. Blood sodium over 145 mEq/L; deficit of water to salt.

Answer: (D)

Hypernatremia means there is too much sodium in the blood relative to water, so the plasma Na+ concentration is high (usually >145 mEq/L). This reflects a free-water deficit relative to salt—water loss or insufficient water intake without a matching salt gain. Normal sodium sits roughly between 135 and 145 mEq/L, so values above 145 indicate hypernatremia. If there’s excess water relative to salt, sodium concentration would decrease, causing hyponatremia, not hypernatremia. The idea here is that the condition describes a high sodium level due to not enough water relative to salt.

Hypernatremia means there is too much sodium in the blood relative to water, so the plasma Na+ concentration is high (usually >145 mEq/L). This reflects a free-water deficit relative to salt—water loss or insufficient water intake without a matching salt gain. Normal sodium sits roughly between 135 and 145 mEq/L, so values above 145 indicate hypernatremia. If there’s excess water relative to salt, sodium concentration would decrease, causing hyponatremia, not hypernatremia. The idea here is that the condition describes a high sodium level due to not enough water relative to salt.