Sodium is a very important mineral considered in hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA). Sodium levels can provide valuable insight into stress, adrenal activity, and mineral balance. Sodium plays a significant role in the body, often paired with potassium. Levels are regulated primarily by the adrenal glands and, along with potassium, are involved in the stress response. Stress increases sodium levels in acute situations, but sodium may later drop if stress persists and becomes chronic. High sodium levels relative to potassium are also a strong indicator of inflammation. Both excess sodium and severe sodium deficiency are linked to heightened stress and altered cortisol levels.
Blood pressure is also regulated by the adrenal glands. The hormone aldosterone helps regulate blood pressure by managing sodium and potassium levels in the blood. Not all cases of high blood pressure are caused by high sodium intake, however, and it’s possible to have high blood pressure with low blood sodium levels, as well as low sodium on an HTMA. Finding both your blood and HTMA sodium levels is vital, providing additional, significant information that blood sodium levels alone do not provide.
Symptoms of Sodium Deficiency:
- Exhaustion
- Fatigue
- Low stomach acid
- Low blood pressure
- Headaches
Symptoms of Sodium Excess:
- Excitability
- Fast oxidation
- Excessive adrenal activity
- May be elevated by toxic metals, which you can find out through HTMA
- Edema
- Headaches
Diane Bousquin of Vital Changes has been offering acupuncture, functional medicine, and nutritional therapies to the La Jolla, CA community since 2003. She has become an expert in HTMA and considers it a significant diagnostic tool in her practice, running it for 80% of her acupuncture patients.
For more information on HTMA and hair mineral analysis testing in La Jolla, CA, check out our additional blogs.
Interested in testing your sodium levels using HTMA? Text or call Diane at 619-808-2364 for more information or book an appointment online.
