Rethinking the Cause of Your Headaches

When people think of sodium, they often think of cutting back. We’ve all heard the warnings: high sodium can raise blood pressure and increase cardiovascular risk. While excessive sodium can be harmful, the opposite problem—too little sodium—is rarely discussed.

Yet, in our functional medicine practice at Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, we’ve seen many patients with chronic headaches whose real problem was sodium deficiency, also known as hyponatremia.

Sodium’s Role in the Body

Sodium is more than just a seasoning—it’s an essential electrolyte that helps regulate:

• Fluid balance between cells and blood vessels
• Nerve signaling for muscle function and brain communication
• Blood volume and pressure
• Nutrient transport across cell membranes

When sodium drops too low, even slightly, it can disrupt nerve function and blood flow to the brain—leading to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and confusion.

How Low Sodium Triggers Headaches

A headache from sodium deficiency often feels like a dull, persistent ache, but it can also present as a throbbing pain that worsens with physical activity.

Here’s why:

1. Brain Swelling from Fluid Shifts – Low sodium levels cause water to move into brain cells, creating mild swelling that increases pressure and pain.
2. Reduced Nerve Signaling Efficiency – Without enough sodium, nerve cells can’t fire properly, leading to neurological symptoms like headache, brain fog, and even mood changes.
3. Low Blood Volume – Sodium helps maintain blood volume; when levels drop, less oxygen reaches brain tissue, contributing to pain.

Causes of Sodium Deficiency

Low sodium can develop for several reasons:

• Excessive water intake – Drinking large amounts without electrolytes dilutes sodium levels.
• Heavy sweating – Intense exercise or working in hot conditions without electrolyte replacement.
• Low-sodium diets – Over-restricting salt, especially when combined with high water intake.
• Diuretic medications – Commonly prescribed for blood pressure or heart failure.
• Hormonal issues – Conditions like adrenal insufficiency can cause sodium loss.
• Chronic illness – Certain kidney or liver disorders affect sodium balance.

When “Drink More Water” Isn’t the Answer

A common headache self-care tip is to drink more water. While dehydration can cause headaches, drinking excessive water without replacing sodium can make things worse—especially for athletes, outdoor workers, or people on strict low-sodium diets.

This is why at Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, we always look at electrolyte balance, not just hydration, when evaluating chronic headaches.

The Functional Medicine Approach

When a patient presents with recurring headaches, we take a whole-body approach to find the root cause. For sodium-related headaches, our evaluation may include:

• Comprehensive blood work – Including sodium, potassium, chloride, and other electrolytes.
• Hormonal testing – To assess adrenal and kidney function.
• Dietary analysis – Reviewing salt intake, water consumption, and meal patterns.
• Lifestyle review – Looking at exercise, sweating, and environmental factors.

Restoring Sodium Balance

If sodium deficiency is confirmed, treatment focuses on gradual restoration, not sudden overcorrection. This may involve:

• Adjusting dietary sodium – Using quality mineral salts like Himalayan or sea salt in appropriate amounts.
• Electrolyte supplementation – Especially during or after exercise, heat exposure, or illness.
• Balancing water intake – Matching hydration with electrolyte replacement.
• Addressing underlying conditions – Such as adrenal insufficiency or medication side effects.

A Real-World Example

A 46-year-old woman came to our St. Louis office with daily afternoon headaches. She avoided salt because of family history of high blood pressure and drank over a gallon of water per day. Blood work revealed low-normal sodium levels.

We adjusted her diet to include moderate amounts of mineral-rich salt, recommended an electrolyte drink during workouts, and reduced unnecessary water overconsumption. Within two weeks, her headaches had disappeared—and her energy improved.

The Bigger Picture

Not all headaches are due to sodium deficiency, but for some patients, this overlooked factor can be the missing piece. Ignoring electrolyte balance while focusing only on hydration or pain relief means the underlying problem may persist.

Functional medicine thrives on asking why symptoms occur. By looking at hydration, diet, hormones, and lifestyle together, we can identify subtle imbalances—like low sodium—that conventional care often misses.

The Takeaway

Sodium is an essential electrolyte for brain and nerve health. Too little can trigger headaches by altering fluid balance, lowering blood volume, and disrupting nerve signaling.

If you have unexplained headaches—especially if you drink a lot of water, sweat heavily, or avoid salt—it’s worth having your sodium levels checked.

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, we offer in-person and telemedicine functional medicine consultations to uncover and correct hidden imbalances that cause headaches, fatigue, and other chronic symptoms.

You don’t have to live with daily discomfort—restoring balance may be simpler than you think.

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