When the electrolyte levels in our body are too high or too low, electrolyte disturbance or electrolyte imbalance It occurs.
Electrolytes are elements and compounds found naturally in the body. They control important physiological functions.
Electrolytes in our body are:
Calcium
- Chloride
- magnesium
Phosphate
Potassium
- Sodium
These substances are found in our blood, body fluids and urine. It is also taken with food, drink, and supplements.
Electrolytes must be kept in balance for the body to function properly. Otherwise, vital body systems may be affected.
Severe electrolyte imbalances can cause serious problems such as coma, seizures, and cardiac arrest.
Electrolyte what?
Electrolytes are certain nutrients (or chemicals) in our bodies that have many important functions, from regulating the heartbeat to allowing muscles to contract so we can move.
Major electrolytes in the body include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphate and chloride.
As these important nutrients help stimulate nerves in the body and balance fluid levels, electrolyte imbalance, It can cause a variety of serious negative symptoms, including some potentially fatal.
While we obtain electrolytes by eating different foods and drinking certain liquids, we partially lose through exercise, sweating, going to the toilet and urinating.
Therefore, you can visit our not enought feedingtoo little or too much exercise and being sick electrolyte imbalanceare some possible causes of.
What are the Causes of Electrolyte Imbalance?
Electrolytes are found in body fluids, including urine, blood, and sweat. Electrolytes are given this name because they literally have an "electric charge". When dissolved in water, they split into positively and negatively charged ions.
The reason this is important is because of how nerve reactions occur. Nerves signal each other through a chemical exchange process linked to ions with opposite charges both inside and outside the cells.
Electrolyte imbalancecan be caused by a number of different factors, including short-term illnesses, medications, dehydration, and underlying chronic disorders.
Electrolyte imbalanceSome of the common causes of sore throat are due to dehydration and may be caused by other conditions, including:
Being sick with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, or high fever, all of which can cause dehydration or dehydration
A poor diet that is low in essential nutrients from unprocessed foods
- Difficulty absorbing nutrients from food due to intestinal or digestive problems (malabsorption)
Hormonal imbalances and endocrine disorders
Taking certain medications, including those to treat cancer, heart disease, or hormonal disorders
Taking antibiotics, over-the-counter diuretics or medications, or corticosteroid hormones
Kidney disease or damage (as the kidneys play a critical role in regulating the chloride in your blood and "flushing out" potassium, magnesium and sodium)
Changes in calcium and potassium levels in the blood and other electrolyte deficiencywhat can cause chemotherapy treatments
What are the Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalance?
Electrolyte imbalanceMild forms may not cause any symptoms. These types of disorders go unnoticed until discovered during a routine blood test.
Symptoms usually occur when a particular disorder becomes more severe.
All electrolyte imbalances It does not cause the same symptoms but most share similar symptoms. Common symptoms seen during an electrolyte imbalance include:
Irregular heartbeat
Rapid heart rate
- Tiredness
Lethargy
Convulsions or seizures
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Diarrhea or constipation
- Fire
Bone disorders
Abdominal cramping
Muscle weakness
Muscle cramps
- Irritability
Mental confusion
- Headache
Numbness and tingling
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and electrolyte imbalance Seek medical advice immediately if you suspect it may occur. If the condition is left untreated, it can be life threatening.
Types of Electrolyte Imbalances
Elevated levels of an electrolyte are referred to as "hyper". Depleted levels of an electrolyte are indicated by "hypo".
Electrolyte imbalancesThe conditions caused by are:
Calcium: hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia
chloride: hyperchloremia and hypochloremia
Magnesium: hypermagnesemia and hypomagnesemia
Phosphate: hyperphosphatemia or hypophosphatemia
Potassium: hyperkalaemia and hypokalemia
Sodium: hypernatremia and hyponatremia
Calcium
Calcium is a vital mineral as the body uses it to stabilize blood pressure and control skeletal muscle contraction. It is also used to build strong bones and teeth.
Hypercalcemiameans too much calcium in the blood. This is usually due to:
Hyperparathyroidism
Kidney disease
Thyroid disorders
Lung diseases such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis
Certain types of cancer, including lung and breast cancers
Overuse of antacids and calcium or vitamin D supplements
Medicines such as lithium and theophylline
Hypocalcemia is when there is not enough calcium in the bloodstream. The reasons are:
- Kidney failure
Hypoparathyroidism
Vitamin D deficiency
Pancreatitis
- Prostate cancer
Malabsorption
Certain medications, including heparin, osteoporosis medication, and antiepileptic drugs
Chloride
Chloride is necessary to maintain the proper balance of body fluids.
When there is too much chloride in the body hyperchloremia occurs. This can result in:
Severe dehydration
- Kidney failure
Dialysis
Hypochloremia develops when there is too little chloride in the body. This is usually caused by sodium or potassium problems as noted below. Other reasons can include:
Cystic fibrosis
Eating disorders such as anorexia
Scorpion stings
Acute kidney injury
Magnesium
Magnesiumis a critical mineral that regulates many important functions such as:
Muscle contraction
Heart rhythm
Nerve function
Hypermagnesemia means excessive amount of magnesium. This is a disease that primarily affects people with Addison's disease and end-stage kidney disease.
Hypomagnesemia means having too little magnesium in the body. Common causes include:
Alcohol use disorder
- Not enought feeding
Malabsorption
Chronic diarrhea
Excessive sweating
Heart failure
Certain medications, including some diuretics and antibiotics
Potassium
Potassium is particularly important for regulating heart function. It also helps maintain healthy nerves and muscles.
Due to high levels of potassium hyperkalaemia can develop. This condition can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. Usually triggered by:
Severe dehydration
- Kidney failure
Severe acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis
Certain medications, including some blood pressure medications and diuretics
Adrenal insufficiency, when your cortisol levels are too low
When potassium levels are too low hypokalemia occurs. This is usually the result of:
Certain medications, including laxatives, diuretics, and corticosteroids
Sodium
In the body liquid electrolyte balanceto protect sodium is essential and critical for normal body function. It also helps regulate nerve function and muscle contraction.
Hypernatremia happens when there is too much sodium in the blood. It can occur due to abnormally high sodium levels:
- Insufficient water consumption
Severe dehydration
Excessive loss of body fluids due to prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or respiratory disease
Certain medications, including corticosteroids
Hyponatremia develops when there is too little sodium. Common causes of low sodium levels include:
- Excessive fluid loss in the skin as a result of sweating or burning
Vomiting or diarrhea
- Not enought feeding
Alcohol use disorder
Overhydration
Thyroid, hypothalamic or adrenal disorders
Liver, heart or kidney failure
Certain medications, including diuretics and seizure medications
Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
Phosphate
The kidneys, bones, and intestines work to balance phosphate levels in the body. Phosphate is essential for a wide variety of functions and interacts closely with calcium.
Hyperphosphatemia can occur due to:
Low calcium levels
Chronic kidney disease
Severe breathing difficulties
Less parathyroid glands
Severe muscle damage
Tumor lysis syndrome, as a result of cancer treatment
Overuse of phosphate-containing laxatives
Low levels of phosphate or hypophosphatemia can occur for the following reasons:
Acute alcohol use
Severe burns
Hunger
Vitamin D deficiency
Overactive parathyroid glands
- Use of certain medications such as intravenous (IV) iron therapy, niacin and some antacids
Diagnosing Electrolyte Imbalance
A simple blood test can measure the electrolyte levels in our body. A blood test that looks at kidney function is also important.
The doctor may want to do a physical exam or if a suspect is electrolyte imbalanceIt may require extra tests to verify. These additional tests will vary depending on the situation in question.
For example, hypernatremia can cause loss of elasticity in the skin due to severe dehydration.
The doctor can do a touch test to determine if dehydration is affecting you. It can also control your reflexes because both increased and depleted levels of electrolytes can affect reflexes.
An electrocardiogram (EKG), which means electrical monitoring of the heart, can also be useful to check for irregular heartbeats, rhythms, or ECG changes that occur with electrolyte problems.
Risk Factors for Electrolyte Imbalance
Anyone can develop an electrolyte imbalance. Some people are more at risk because of their medical history. Conditions that increase the risk of electrolyte imbalance include:
Alcohol use disorder
Cirrhosis
Congestive heart failure
Kidney disease
Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia
Trauma, such as severe burns or broken bones
Thyroid and parathyroid disorders
Adrenal gland disorders
How to Eliminate Electrolyte Loss in the Body?
Pay attention to nutrition
A electrolyte imbalanceThe first step in fixing it is to understand how it evolved in the first place. In most cases, a small electrolyte imbalancecan be corrected by simply making dietary changes and reducing junk food, takeout and restaurant food, by eating fresher food at home instead.
Pay attention to your sodium intake
When you consume packaged or processed foods, check your sodium levels. Sodium is an electrolyte that plays an important role in the body's ability to retain or release water, so if the foods you eat are too high in sodium, more water is excreted by the kidneys, and this can cause complications related to balancing other electrolytes.
When the amount of water in our body changes electrolyte imbalance can develop, or cause dehydration (not enough water compared to some high electrolytes) or overhydration (too much water).
Drinking enough water without over-hydrating the cells helps stop sodium and potassium levels from getting too high or too low.
Check your medications
Antibiotics, diuretics, hormonal pills, blood pressure medications, and cancer treatments can all affect electrolyte levels.
Electrolyte imbalanceThe most severe forms of the disease are usually seen in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Its symptoms can be very serious when not properly managed and include high blood calcium levels or other imbalances that develop when cancer cells die.
If you have started a new drug or supplement and have noticed changes in your mood, energy, heart rate and sleep. electrolyte imbalance Contact your doctor to minimize the risks.
Fuel after exercise
Fluids and electrolytes (usually in the form of extra sodium) are commonly consumed by athletes during or after training.
Replenishing electrolytes has been a known recommendation for years, and sports drinks and enriched water are therefore popular with very active people.
It is important to drink enough water before, during and after exercise to keep you hydrated, and if you exercise for a long time, it is necessary to replenish your electrolyte stores as some electrolytes (especially sodium) are lost when you sweat.
To compensate for fluid loss during exercise extra waterYou need to drink about 1,5 to 2,5 cups for shorter workouts and about three extra glasses for workouts lasting longer than an hour.
When there is not enough water in the body, dehydration and deficiencies can cause cardiovascular complications (changes in heartbeat), muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, and confusion.
Not only does this impair overall aerobic performance, it can also cause fainting or, in rare cases, serious problems such as a heart attack.
Make up for the shortcomings
Due to high levels of stress, genetic factors, or pre-existing medical conditions, some individuals may be chronically deficient in certain electrolytes.
Magnesium and potassium are two electrolytes that most people are low on. Taking magnesium supplements daily can help replenish stores and prevent magnesium deficiency, which is responsible for symptoms such as anxiety, sleep problems or muscle cramps.
How to Prevent Electrolyte Imbalances?
A electrolyte imbalanceSee a doctor if you are experiencing the common symptoms of.
If the electrolyte imbalance is caused by medication or underlying causes, the doctor will adjust your medication and treat the cause. This future electrolyte imbalanceIt will also help prevent.
If you experience prolonged vomiting, diarrhea or sweating, be careful to drink water.
Electrolyte imbalance is a dangerous condition. Did you live too?
