Getting Cramps Regularly? Know Possible Causes Behind This Condition Of Water Retention

We are aware of the importance of water in our body. But excess of water can also be dangerous for our health. There are many problems that are associated with increased water retention in the body. One of the syndrome which affects hypothalamus portion of the brain due to excess of water present in the body is syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone. This anti-diuretic hormone is the root cause of overproduction of water inside the body. Today we will discuss about the conditions that affect syndrome of anti-diuretic hormone and how can it be overturned.

What Is Anti Diuretic Hormone?

OnlyMyHealth consulted Dr. Adesh Mukherjee, Consulting Physician from Ivory Hospital in Greater Noida. He explained that ADH is actually produced in hypothalamus section of the brain because of which it makes it harder for the body to release water. When the water retention increases, it leads to decrease in the amount of sodium present in the body. As a result of this condition, anti-diuretic hormone causes major complications which can be life-threatening at times. Symptoms of this syndrome start occurring at the later stage of the problem, and usually a person feel very generic symptoms such as cramps, nausea or vomiting. 

Syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone affects kidney functions and result to failure in the amount of nutrition required by the body. This syndrome also affects electrolytes and lowers the level of electrolytes in the blood that creates health problems.  

Symptoms of Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-diuretic Hormone

Symptoms of SIADH are quite common and it becomes difficult to determine symptoms of this problem initially. However if multiple symptoms of this disease start becoming evident, then you must consult an expert.

• Seizures
• Cramps 
• Tremors 
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Irritability 
• Seizures 
• Confusion 
• Hallucination 
• Memory impairment
• Depressed mood

In this condition diagnosis becomes very important to determine the severity of the syndrome. 

How Is SIADH diagnosed?

Diagnosis of this syndrome is important to determine the level of severity of disease. In Inappropriate anti-diuretic hormonal syndrome, your doctor might diagnose you for medication or drugs that could lead to this problem. Other than that diagnosis is done with the help of urine sample which needs to be given after physical diagnosis. 

During physical diagnosis, doctor checks the pressure points where there could be possible pain or uncomfortable situation because of water retention. In general cases, people complain of cramps and pain in the stomach and liver region due to excess water retention. Once the physical test is done and urine sample is collected, then blood tests are taken to understand the parameters affecting health of the person. 

In this process ADH levels are also measured to find out the accurate level of water in the body. Normal Anti-diuretic hormone level should range between 0-5 pico-grams per millimetre. If the measurement comes higher than the given value, then it is assured that it is because of syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone. Other than this, urine sample must confirm disproportionate amount of sodium in the body.

Causes of SIADH

There is a variety of underlying health condition that could be a possible cause of ADH production. According to our physician, most of the cases that occur are because of heart failure or lung disease. However there may be much other health condition that could cause syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone. 

• Brain tumours 
• Psychosis
• Lung disease 
• Head trauma
• Inflammation in the brain
• Inflammation of meninges that are membranes which cover spinal cord
• Result or reaction of certain types of ongoing medications
• HIV 
• Hereditary causes
• Due to thyroid or parathyroid hormone deficiency
• Damage of hypothalamus gland

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What Are the Treatment Options for SIADH?

As the diagnosis gets over and it reports of this syndrome, first thing to do is to limit the production of fluids in the body. This includes water intake, beverages, juicy fruits and some vegetables. Second step is to give medication to avoid complications. 

Medications are given to reverse or control the action caused by anti-diuretic hormones. The patient suffering from this syndrome is observed for a few days, and again the tests are conducted. If the condition of the patient improves, then the treatment is continued by medicines, otherwise surgery becomes the only option left. 

If the symptoms ease, then the person might feel more relaxed and start having lesser cramps. In case of surgery, the tumour that is producing this hormone needs to be removed. However surgical option is not preferred until the parameters becomes excessively out of control or dangerous for health. Medications are also given to regulate the body fluid to reduce the affect of water retention caused by hypothalamus section of the brain.

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Conclusion

Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone Secretion occurs because of excessive levels of anti-diuretic hormones production in the hypothalamus part of the brain. Because of this water in unable to move out and water retention goes upto a serious level. As a result of this problem, this syndrome occurs. Excessive production of water could be possible because of any underlying health condition such as heart disease of lung problems. 

Symptoms of SIADH are having painful cramps, nausea, vomiting, seizures and depressed memory, etc. Since the symptoms are very common, proper diagnosis is needed in order to confirm this syndrome. Treatment options are limited to cure this problem, first water intake is limited and then medications are given to regulate water retention. If condition does not improve then surgery is done to remove the tumour creating this issue.

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