Lab Results Explained and Tracked
What does it mean if your Sodium result is too high?
Sodium (Na) is an essential element with extracellular electrolyte functions. However, these functions do not occur in hair. Hair Sodium measurement should be considered a screening test only; blood testing for Sodium and electrolyte levels is much more diagnostic and indicative of status. High hair Sodium may have no clinical significance or it may be the result of an electrolyte imbalance. A possible imbalance for which high hair Sodium is a consistent finding is adrenocortical hyperactivity. In this condition, blood Sodium is elevated while potassium is low. Potassium is elevated (wasted) in the urine. Sodium and potassium levels in hair are commonly high in association with elevated levels of potentially toxic elements. The elevated Sodium and potassium levels are frequently concomitant with low levels of calcium and magnesium in hair. This apparent phenomenon requires further investigation. Appropriate tests for Sodium status as an electrolyte are measurements of Sodium in whole blood and urine, and measurements of adrenocortical function.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your Sodium result is too low?
Sodium (Na) Levels in Hair: Understanding Low Results
The level of sodium (Na) in hair is not a reliable indicator of dietary adequacy or nutritional status. Sodium is an essential element with critical extracellular electrolyte functions, but these functions are not reflected in hair. Therefore, low sodium levels in hair may have limited clinical significance.
However, in certain cases, low hair sodium could align with an electrolyte imbalance often seen in conditions such as adrenal insufficiency. In such cases, the following patterns may be observed:
- Blood sodium (Na): Low
- Blood potassium (K): High
- Urinary sodium (Na): Elevated
At DDI, observations suggest that low sodium and potassium levels in hair are often linked to emotional stress. This "emotional stress pattern" is frequently associated with elevated levels of calcium and magnesium in hair. While intriguing, this correlation requires further scientific investigation.
Key Recommendation
To accurately assess sodium status as an electrolyte, more direct and clinically validated tests are recommended, such as:
- Measuring sodium levels in whole blood and urine.
- Evaluating adrenocortical function to rule out related disorders.
Article Review & Sources
All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We're committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.