Biomarker education

Sodium: What It Measures & Why People Track It

Also called: Na, Serum sodium

Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance and is part of most metabolic panels.

General biomarker education — not personalized medical advice. Learn more

Result on your report

Illustrative

Sodium

Range: LowHigh

LowReference intervalHigh

What it generally measures

Labs measure the concentration of sodium in blood serum or plasma, which reflects the balance between fluid and sodium intake and loss.

Common units on reports: mmol/L

Why people track it over time

Sodium is usually reviewed with the other electrolytes on the same panel rather than by itself.

Changes over time do not by themselves establish a diagnosis. Learn more

Questions you might ask a healthcare professional

Questions to bring

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Ask how sodium compares with potassium, chloride, and CO2 on this report.
Mention hydration, medications, or recent illness your clinician has said may matter.

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