Final answer:
Interference with sodium or blood volume mechanisms can result in hyponatremia, with symptoms including cell swelling and potential brain damage, or hypernatremia, which can cause increased blood pressure and complications such as heart attacks and strokes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interference with sodium or blood volume mechanisms can result in various conditions depending on the nature of the imbalance. If there is a relative decrease in blood sodium, this may be due to an imbalance of sodium in the body's fluid compartments or from dilution of sodium due to water retention, potentially leading to hyponatremia, which is characterized by lower-than-normal levels of sodium in the blood. Hyponatremia can cause increased entry of water into cells by osmosis, leading to cell swelling, potential brain damage, or even death. On the other hand, hypernatremia is an abnormal increase of blood sodium, which can stem from water loss from the blood, resulting in higher sodium levels. This can lead to increased blood pressure and contribute to complications like heart attacks and strokes, as well as the development of edema.