What symptom may a patient experience due to increased sodium levels?

When sodium levels in the body increase, a condition known as hypernatremia can occur. This elevation in sodium concentration leads to an osmotic imbalance, triggering the sensation of thirst. The body responds to high sodium levels by stimulating thirst centers in the brain, prompting the individual to seek out fluids to dilute the sodium and restore balance.

Thirst is the body's natural response to hypernatremia, as it encourages fluid intake to help maintain proper hydration and cellular function. Consequently, feeling thirsty is a common symptom accompanying elevated sodium levels.

In contrast, increased urination often results from diuretic effects or fluid overload, not directly from increased sodium levels. Decreased thirst would not align with the physiological response to high sodium, as thirst is typically heightened rather than diminished. While fatigue can be a general symptom of various imbalances, it is not specifically tied to elevated sodium levels in the same way that thirst is.