What Are Electrolytes?
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are very important for the body. As we will see below, an electrolyte level imbalance can be fatal. These substances are related to the flow of water in the body, the pH of the blood, its acidity and muscle activity.
The main electrolytes of the human body are sodium, chlorine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. For each of them there are values of blood concentration that are considered normal. E.g:
- For potassium, the normal values vary between 3.5-5.3 mEq / L.
- Sodium has normal values between 136-145 mEq / L.
- For chlorine, normal values range from 97-107 mEq / L.
Causes of electrolyte imbalance
Now that we have found out what electrolytes are, we will discuss the causes that disrupt their proper functioning.
- Dehydration: When the body enters a period of dehydration it loses fluids. Moreover, it also loses these electrically charged substances. During febrile peaks or gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea, electrolyte deficiency may occur.
- Malabsorption syndrome: There are pathologies that alter the process of absorption of nutrients in the intestine. When this happens, the electrolytes that are ingested may not actually reach the cells.
- Endocrine diseases: Diabetes or hypothyroidism are examples of hormonal problems that disrupt the balance of the body’s internal environment.
- Chemotherapy: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are very sensitive to electrolyte imbalance. Those who treat cancer patients should always make sure that they replace what is lost due to treatment.
- Medication: In addition to chemotherapy, there are other commonly used medications that cause the loss of minerals (for example, diuretics and some corticosteroids).
- Kidney disease: The kidneys must regulate the amount of substances that leave the body. When it fails, it can lose sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
In the case of calcium, for example, there may be hypocalcemia (less calcium in the blood) or hypercalcemia (higher calcium in the blood). In women, hypocalcemia may increase the risk of osteoporosis with the onset of menopause. At the other extreme, hypercalcemia can lead to kidney stones.
Sodium, both in excess and in small amounts, alters neuronal function. Hyponatremia, which is low in sodium, and hypernatremia, which is high in sodium in the blood, causes irritability and confusion. In extreme cases, this can lead to seizures.
Potassium is the electrolyte that causes most emergencies. Myocardiocytes, which are the muscle cells of the heart, require specific levels of potassium for the heartbeat to be correct. Lack of potassium in the blood is a trigger for arrhythmia, which carries its own risks.
When it comes to excess potassium in the blood, although it is not an emergency, you should consult a specialist to detect kidney problems. The first manifestation of renal failure may be hyperglycemia, which involves an increase in potassium in the blood.
