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Electrolytes are essential in regulating critical bodily functions. When your body is low on electrolytes, whether it’s due to vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration, it can impair these crucial functions and lead to significant discomfort.
The role of electrolytes in the body include the following:
- Prevent cells from shrinking or swelling
- Enable normal muscle contraction and relaxation
- Maintain normal blood pressure
- Maintain normal rhythm and rate of the heart
- Maintain blood pH in the normal range (7.35 to 7.45, slightly alkaline)
- Maintain brain health and orientation
- Assist blood clotting
- Transmit nerve signals from heart, muscle, and nerve cells to other cells
Electrolyte Imbalance | Normal levels (mEq/L) | Effect of low levels |
---|---|---|
(Low sodium |
135-145 |
|
Hypocalcemia (Low calcium) |
8.5-10.2 |
|
3.5-5.5 |
|
|
Hypomagnesemia (Low magnesium) |
1.7-2.2 |
As magnesium deficiency worsens:
|
Hypochloremia (Low chloride levels) |
96-106 |
|
Hypophosphatemia (Low phosphate levels) |
2.5-4.5 |
|
What causes electrolyte imbalances?
Electrolytes and water in your body are regulated by your kidneys, lungs, and hormones. However, various conditions can cause electrolyte levels in your body to become imbalanced. Although mild imbalances may go undetected, extreme electrolyte imbalances can cause heart and kidney kidneys and in some cases even be life-threatening. Both infants and the elderly are particularly at risk of the dangers of an electrolyte imbalance.
Causes | Symptoms | Treatment |
---|---|---|
Loss of body fluids |
|
|
Medications |
|
|
Hormonal diseases |
|
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Other conditions |
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Psychiatric causes |
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Electrolytes are substances that become ions in solution and acquire the capacity to conduct electricity. The balance of the electrolytes in our bodies is essential for normal function of our cells and our organs. Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. The functions and normal range values for these electrolytes are important, and if an electrolyte is at an extreme low or high, it can be fatal.Healthy Living and Disease Prevention
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Potassium is an essential electrolyte necessary for cell function. Low potassium (hypokalemia) may be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, ileostomy, colon polyps, laxative use, diuretics, elevated corticosteroid levels, renal artery stenosis, and renal tubular acidosis, or other medications. Symptoms of low potassium include weakness, aches, and cramps of the muscles. Treatment is dependent upon the cause of the low potassium (hypokalemia).
sodium phosphates IV
Sodium phosphate intravenous (IV) is a combination of sodium and phosphate used to prevent and correct low serum phosphate levels (hypophosphatemia) in people who have restricted or no oral intake. Sodium phosphate is administered as an intravenous infusion and is also used as part of the fluid formulas used to provide the necessary nutrients and electrolytes to patients dependent on total parenteral (intravenous) nutrition (TPN). Common side effects of sodium phosphates IV include high levels of phosphates in the blood (hyperphosphatemia), low potassium in the blood (hypokalemia), high or low sodium levels in the blood (hypernatremia or hyponatremia), low calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia), involuntary muscle contractions (tetany) from hypocalcemia, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, canker sores (aphthous stomatitis), loss of appetite (anorexia), fatigue, lethargy, irritability, confusion, stupor, coma, and others.What Are the Early Signs of Hypokalemia?
Hypokalemia is defined as decreased potassium levels in the body. Potassium is a micro-mineral, an electrolyte that is required for proper functioning of the heart, nerves and maintaining salt-water balance in the body.