Can You Get Sick From Not Having Enough Salt?

December 5, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, while most people consume too much sodium, a clinically relevant deficiency is extremely unlikely in healthy individuals unless under specific pathological conditions. Nevertheless, the short answer to, "Can you get sick from not having enough salt?" is a resounding 'yes,' and this condition is medically known as hyponatremia.

Quick Summary

Insufficient sodium intake can lead to hyponatremia, causing symptoms ranging from mild headaches and fatigue to severe neurological issues like seizures. The body's balance of water and sodium is delicate, and a deficiency can affect nerve function, muscle activity, and fluid balance. Several factors can cause this imbalance, including intense exercise, certain medications, and underlying health conditions.

Key Points

Hyponatremia is the medical term for low blood sodium levels: It can cause sickness ranging from mild symptoms to severe, life-threatening complications.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte: It is crucial for nerve function, muscle contractions, and regulating fluid balance in the body.
Symptoms range from mild to critical: Mild symptoms include headache and fatigue, while severe cases can lead to confusion, seizures, and coma.
Causes extend beyond low dietary intake: Hyponatremia is often triggered by medical conditions, medications, or drinking too much water, which dilutes sodium.
Maintaining balance is key: The dangers of low sodium highlight that moderation is important, not total elimination, of this vital nutrient.
Listen to your body: Unusual fatigue, dizziness, or muscle cramps after activity can be signs of a sodium imbalance.
Consult a healthcare professional: Individuals with chronic health conditions need professional guidance to manage their sodium intake safely.

The Critical Role of Sodium in the Body

Sodium, often demonized for its link to high blood pressure, is an essential electrolyte vital for numerous bodily functions. It works in conjunction with other electrolytes, like potassium, to regulate critical processes. This balance is key to overall health, and a shortage can lead to serious complications.

Sodium's Core Functions

Fluid Balance: Sodium helps maintain the proper balance of water inside and outside your cells. When sodium levels drop, water can move into the cells, causing them to swell. This is particularly dangerous in the brain, where limited space for expansion exists.
Nerve Impulse Transmission: Sodium is crucial for the transmission of nerve impulses. Without adequate sodium, nerve and muscle cells cannot function correctly.
Muscle Contraction: Proper muscle function, including the contraction and relaxation of muscles, relies on sodium. Low sodium can lead to muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps.
Blood Pressure Regulation: While high sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, extremely low sodium levels can cause blood volume to shrink, potentially leading to low blood pressure.

Understanding Hyponatremia: The Dangers of Low Sodium

Hyponatremia is the medical term for dangerously low sodium levels in the blood. The severity of the symptoms depends on how quickly and dramatically sodium levels drop. It can be categorized into several types, but the outcome for severe, untreated cases can be life-threatening.

The Spectrum of Hyponatremia Symptoms

Mild Symptoms: Early signs are often general and can be mistaken for other issues. These include headaches, nausea, loss of energy, fatigue, and muscle cramps.
Moderate to Severe Symptoms: As sodium levels continue to drop, more serious symptoms emerge. These can include confusion, irritability, restlessness, decreased consciousness, hallucinations, and severe muscle weakness.
Critical Symptoms: In acute, severe cases, the swelling of brain cells can lead to seizures, coma, or even death.

Causes of Hyponatremia

It's important to recognize that hyponatremia isn't always caused by simply not eating enough salt. In fact, many cases are related to an imbalance in water and sodium.

Overhydration: Drinking excessive amounts of water, especially during endurance sports, can dilute the sodium concentration in the blood.
Medical Conditions: A variety of chronic health issues can cause or contribute to low sodium. This includes kidney disease, heart failure, liver disease, and adrenal gland insufficiency.
Medications: Certain drugs, like diuretics and some antidepressants, can interfere with the body's ability to regulate sodium.
Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea: Prolonged or severe bouts can cause the loss of electrolytes, including sodium.

Comparison: Dangers of Too Little vs. Too Much Salt


Feature	Insufficient Salt (Hyponatremia)	Excessive Salt (Hypernatremia)
Core Problem	Dangerously low sodium level in the blood, often due to water imbalance.	Consistently high sodium intake over time.
Associated Health Risks	Low blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, seizures, and brain swelling.	High blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, and stroke.
Symptom Profile	Nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, and confusion.	High blood pressure (often asymptomatic), thirst, bloating, and potential long-term heart damage.
Primary Cause	Often caused by underlying medical issues or overhydration, not just diet.	Mainly caused by consumption of processed foods and high-sodium diets.

Maintaining a Healthy Sodium Balance

For most healthy adults, maintaining adequate sodium levels is straightforward. The key lies in listening to your body and consuming a balanced diet.

Actionable steps include:

Be Mindful of Processed Foods: The majority of sodium in most diets comes from packaged and restaurant foods. Cooking at home with whole foods allows for greater control over your sodium intake.
Adjust for Activity and Climate: If you exercise intensely or are in a hot climate, your body loses more sodium through sweat. Replacing electrolytes with a sports drink or a slightly saltier meal can be beneficial.
Listen to Your Body's Signals: Feelings of unusual fatigue, dizziness, or muscle cramps, especially after physical exertion, can be signals of low sodium.
Consult a Professional: Individuals with existing health conditions like heart, kidney, or liver disease should seek medical guidance to tailor their sodium intake appropriately.

Conclusion

The perception that all salt is bad is an oversimplification. While excessive intake is a public health concern linked to significant risks like high blood pressure and heart disease, an insufficient amount can also make you sick. Hyponatremia, the condition caused by low blood sodium, can lead to a range of symptoms from mild fatigue to life-threatening complications like seizures and brain swelling. The optimal approach is not to eliminate salt entirely but to maintain a balanced intake, adjust for activity levels, and consult a healthcare provider for any concerns, especially if underlying health conditions exist. For most people, simply avoiding excess processed foods and listening to their body's signals is a great start towards a healthy sodium balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hyponatremia is a condition where the sodium level in your blood is lower than normal, meaning you have too little sodium relative to the amount of water in your body.

Early signs of low sodium can include general and non-specific symptoms such as headache, nausea, loss of energy, fatigue, and muscle cramps.

Yes, an excessively low-salt diet can cause your blood volume to shrink, potentially leading to low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.

Yes, especially in severe cases. Acute hyponatremia can cause rapid brain swelling, leading to serious consequences like seizures, coma, or death if not treated immediately.

Older adults, endurance athletes who overhydrate, and people with certain health conditions like heart, kidney, or liver problems are at higher risk.

Treatment for a diagnosed sodium deficiency depends on the cause and severity. It can range from fluid restriction or adjusting medication to intravenous sodium administration under medical supervision.

Preventing a sodium deficiency involves staying hydrated with electrolytes during intense activities and managing underlying medical conditions. Most healthy people can prevent it by not over-restricting salt and consuming a balanced diet.