Sodium (Na) in Urine

Urinary Sodium

What To Think About

• Sodium levels can also be measured in a blood test. For more information, see the medical test Sodium (Na) in Blood.
• Doctors may look at urine sodium and blood sodium levels to see whether conditions or medicines may be causing fluid or electrolyte imbalances. Urine sodium levels are often high when blood levels are low or low when blood levels are high. Urine sodium levels are affected by medicines and hormones.
• To see whether the body is passing too little or too much sodium in the urine, a value called the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) can be found by looking at the amounts of sodium and creatinine in blood and urine. In a person with kidney failure, a low FENa may mean less blood flow to the kidneys is causing the kidney failure.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: January 10, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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