Understanding Hypernatremia in Dehydration

A patient presents to the emergency department with symptoms of severe dehydration, including dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, and hypotension. The nurse is aware that one common electrolyte imbalance associated with dehydration is an increase in the serum sodium level. More specifically, when a patient is dehydrated, the serum sodium concentration is typically elevated above the normal range of 135-145 mEq/L. In this case, the nurse notes that the patient's serum sodium level is 152 mEq/L. It is crucial to recognize that the patient is experiencing a condition known as hypernatremia, which occurs when sodium levels exceed the normal range due to inadequate water intake or excessive water loss. Please fill in the blank with the term that describes the sodium level condition: hyper__________.