Electrolytes and everything you need to know

Electrolytes are substances that conduct electricity when dissolved in water. Electrolytes are essential for many body functions.

An adult's body contains about 60% of water, which means that almost every drop of body fluid and cell contains electrolytes.

The body needs electrolytes to function well. Many of our body's processes depend on a small electrical current, and electrolytes play a powerful role in passing this current.

Electrolytes interact with each other and between tissue, nerve and muscle cells. The balance of different electrolytes is very important for the functioning of the body.

Facts about electrolytes:

The body gets electrolytes from the daily diet and fluids you drink. The kidneys filter excess electrolytes from the body and pass them into the urine. Our body also loses electrolytes when we sweat. Therefore, it is important to maintain electrolyte balance in summer.

• Electrolytes are vital for the healthy functioning of the human body.
• Fruits and vegetables are good sources of electrolytes.
• Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate.
• Symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance can include muscle twitching, weakness, and heart rhythm problems.
• Elderly people are especially at risk of electrolyte imbalance

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are chemicals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water.

They regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and help repair damaged tissues.

Muscles and neurons are sometimes called the "electrical tissues" of the body. They depend on the movement of electrolytes through fluid inside, outside or between cells.

Electrolytes in the human body include:

• sodium
• potassium
• calcium
• bicarbonate
• magnesium
• chloride
• phosphate

For example, muscles need calcium, sodium, and potassium to contract. When these substances become imbalanced, it can cause muscle weakness or excessive contraction.

The heart, muscles, and nerve cells use electrolytes to carry electrical impulses to other cells.

What do electrolytes do?

The body's cells use electrolytes to transfer electrical charges, so our muscles can contract. These same electrical charges also aid in chemical reactions, especially when it comes to hydration and fluid balance inside and outside cells.

The basic principle behind electrolytes is that certain chemical elements can naturally have a positive or negative electrical charge. When those elements dissolve in a liquid, that liquid can conduct electricity.

A good example is salt water, which conducts electricity easily. Salt consists of sodium (positively charged) and chlorine (negatively charged), and together their charges balance each other. Atoms that carry an electrical charge are called ions (positive ions are called cations and negative ions are called anions).

Dissolving salt in water splits the sodium and chlorine atoms apart, meaning they revert to positive and negative charge. Electricity jumps between sodium and chlorine ions - because they have opposite electrical charges.

At the most basic chemical level, electrolytes help keep your body in balance. Just as electricity uses ions to travel from one place to another in salt water, your body uses ions to transport chemical compounds in and out of cells.

Basic electrolytes

There are several key elements that the body needs to maintain normal electrolyte levels. Here are the main elements labeled as positive (+) or negative (-) and what happens when the body has too much or too little of that element.

Sodium (+)

Sodium plays an important role in helping cells maintain proper fluid balance. It also helps cells absorb nutrients. It is the most abundant electrolyte ion found in the body.

• Hypernatremia (too much sodium): May cause behavioral changes, abnormally strong reflexes and loss of muscle control, seizures.
• Hyponatremia (not enough sodium): confusion, irritability, impaired reflexes, nausea and vomiting, seizures.

Magnesium (+)

Magnesium helps your cells by converting nutrients into energy. Our brains and muscles depend heavily on magnesium to do their jobs efficiently.

• Hypermagnesemia (too much magnesium): changes in heart rate and arrhythmias, weakened reflexes, decreased ability to breathe.

 

• Hypomagnesemia (insufficient magnesium): muscle weakness, twitching and loss of control, cardiac arrhythmias. This usually happens together with calcium and potassium deficiency.

Potassium (+)

Cells use potassium along with sodium. When a sodium ion enters a cell, a potassium ion leaves it and vice versa. Potassium is also particularly important for heart function. Too much or too little can cause serious heart problems.

• Hyperkalemia (too much potassium): weakness, inability to move muscles, confusion, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias).

 

• Hypokalemia (insufficient potassium): muscle weakness and cramps, unusual thirst and frequent urination, dizziness or fainting when standing up quickly. When potassium is even more deficient, muscle tissue begins to break down (a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which can severely damage the kidneys), and cardiac arrhythmias become a serious threat.

Calcium (+)

Calcium is a key element of the body, but it does more than just help you have strong bones and teeth.

It is also used to control muscles, transmit signals in nerves, control heart rhythm and more. Too much or too little calcium in the blood can cause many symptoms in different body systems.

• Hypercalcemia (too much calcium)
  • Brain: headache, fatigue, apathy and confusion.
  • Gastrointestinal tract: constipation, abdominal pain and vomiting.
  • Kidneys: Frequent need to urinate, kidney stones and kidney failure.
  • Heart: Arrhythmias, some of which may be severe.
  • Body: Pain in bones and joints.

 

• Hypocalcemia (insufficient calcium)
  • Brain: Confusion and Behavioral Changes.
  • Muscles: Abnormally strong reflexes and loss of muscle control, muscle twitching, throat muscle spasms that make it difficult to speak or breathe.

Chloride (-)

Chloride (name of chlorine ion) is the second most abundant ion in the body. It is also a key component in how your cells maintain their internal and external fluid balance. It also plays an important role in maintaining the body's natural pH balance.

• Hyperchloremia (too much chloride)
  • Can cause acidosis, when your blood is too acidic.
  • Causes nausea, vomiting and fatigue, as well as rapid, deeper breathing. This usually happens with too much or too little potassium.

 

• Hypochloremia (not enough chloride)
  • This makes your blood more alkaline, a condition called alkalosis. This usually occurs with hyponatremia or vomiting. Symptoms of alkalosis include apathy, confusion, arrhythmia, and muscle twitching or loss of control.

Phosphate (-)

Phosphate is a phosphorus-based molecule that is central to the transport of chemical compounds and molecules outside of cells. It helps cells metabolize nutrients and is a key part of molecules called nucleotides, which are the building blocks that make up DNA.

• Hyperphosphatemia (too much phosphate): This usually causes hypocalcemia because the body tries to use calcium as a substitute for phosphorus. It usually does not cause symptoms until it becomes severe, and symptoms of hypocalcemia are common. Excessive itching may also be associated

• Hypophosphatemia (not enough phosphate): An early symptom of this condition is usually muscle weakness. When the deficiency is even greater, more severe symptoms occur. These include rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of muscle tissue that can cause severe kidney damage), seizures, reduced heart function, and breathing problems (caused by muscle weakness).

Bicarbonate (-)

Not all carbon dioxide produced by the body is sent to the lungs. Instead, some of the carbon dioxide is recycled into bicarbonate, which the body uses to maintain normal blood pH levels.

• Acidosis. Too little bicarbonate causes acidosis, when your blood is too acidic. This causes fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and you will breathe faster and deeper. It can also cause a sense of confusion in the mind.

 

• Alkalosis. Too much bicarbonate causes alkalosis, when your blood becomes too alkaline. Symptoms include confusion, apathy, arrhythmia, and muscle twitching.

 

Electrolyte imbalance

Electrolytes in the blood can be too high or too low, causing an imbalance. The amount of electrolytes can change when compared to the amount of water in the body, as well as when evaluating other factors.

Important electrolytes, including sodium and potassium, are lost when sweating during exercise. Rapid fluid loss, such as after diarrhea or vomiting, can also affect electrolyte levels. In such situations, it is necessary to restore the electrolyte balance in the body.

The kidneys and several hormones regulate the concentration of each electrolyte. If the level of one is too high, the kidneys filter it out of the body, and different hormones work to restore balance.

An imbalance causes health problems when the concentration of a certain electrolyte becomes higher than the body can regulate. Low electrolytes can also affect your overall health.

The most common imbalances are related to sodium and potassium.

Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance

Symptoms depend on which electrolyte is out of balance and whether the level is too high or too low.

A harmful concentration of magnesium, sodium, potassium, or calcium can cause one or more of the following symptoms:

• irregular heartbeat
• weakness
• muscle twitching and muscle spasms
• changes in blood pressure
• excessive fatigue
• melting
• nervous system disorders
• convulsions

For example, excess calcium can occur in people with breast cancer, lung cancer, or multiple myeloma. This type of electrolyte excess is often caused by bone loss. Too much calcium can cause symptoms such as:

• frequent urination
• constipation
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• irregular heartbeat
• thirst
• dry mouth or throat
• lethargy
• fatigue
• moodiness and irritability
• extreme muscle weakness
• complete loss of appetite

Because these symptoms can also be caused by cancer or cancer treatment, it can be difficult to pinpoint high calcium levels as the cause.  

Causes of electrolyte imbalance

There are several possible causes of electrolyte imbalance, including:

• low electrolytes and post-exercise hydration
• prolonged periods of vomiting or diarrhea
• poor nutrition
• severe dehydration
• acid-base imbalance
• congestive heart failure
• some other medicines, such as diuretics
• bulimia
• kidney disease
• age, as older people's kidneys become less efficient over time

Sources of electrolytes

People who do not need hospital treatment can be recommended to supplement their diet with certain products or use quality supplements. After replenishing the body with electrolytes, their concentration is balanced.

When electrolytes are too low, it's important to have foods, drinks, and quality supplements that are high in electrolytes. Here are some options:

• Sodium - dill, pickles, tomato juice, sauces and soup table salt
• Chloride - tomato juice, sauces and soups, salads, olives, table salt
• Potassium - potatoes with skin, plain yogurt, banana
• Magnesium - halibut, pumpkin seeds, spinach
• Calcium - yogurt, milk, spinach, cabbage, sardines

It pays to know how much of each electrolyte is in a food, drink or supplement.

Taking supplements is a good way to restore low electrolytes. For example, older people often don't get enough potassium, and treatment with corticosteroids or diuretics can also lower potassium levels. In this case, supplements containing potassium can increase its concentration in the blood.

It's important

Electrolytes are a vital part of human chemistry. An imbalance can affect how the body functions and cause a variety of symptoms. For example, if a person feels weak after a workout, an electrolyte imbalance may be one of the reasons.

Taking electrolytes during or after intense exercise can help maintain balance. Make sure you drink enough fluids.