Electrolytes: Function, Levels, Imbalances

Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals found in blood, sweat and urine. These minerals help regulate the nervous system, hydration, muscle function and blood pH.

You need different electrolytes to keep your brain and muscles functioning. Body function electrolytes help regulate:

• Nervous system signals: Sodium, an electrolyte, helps send nerve impulses, or electrical signals, that your brain sends through nerve cells to give your cells instructions for operation. Magnesium, another electrolyte, also helps your brain function.
• Muscle contractions: Calcium, an electrolyte, helps muscles contract, while magnesium helps them relax.
• Hydration: Electrolytes like sodium help balance water inside and outside your cells through osmosis, when water passes through the cell membrane to control the dilution of water and electrolytes. This helps prevent cells from bursting or becoming dehydrated.
• pH levels: Electrolytes help the body regulate its internal pH (the degree of acidity or alkalinity of an element). Different parts of the body, like the blood, must maintain a certain pH to eliminate disease and function properly.

The body cannot make the majority of electrolytes itself, so you must consume them. Fruits and vegetables are the main sources of electrolytes. You can also get essential electrolytes like sodium and chloride from table salt.

Food sources of electrolytes include:

• Sodium: Salt, cheese, marinated foods
• Chloride: Salt
• Potassium: Beet greens, lima beans, sweet potato, bananas, avocado
• Magnesium: Pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, boiled spinach, peanuts
• Calcium: Dairy products, fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables

Generally, eating foods containing electrolytes is enough to meet the needs of the average person. Electrolyte sports drinks and salt-fortified drinks can also help supplement electrolytes. These drinks can help you rehydrate quickly if you’ve lost too many electrolytes from strenuous exercise, vomiting, or diarrhea.

You can have your electrolyte levels tested with a blood or urine test. A basic metabolic blood panel measures serum levels (the part of your blood without cells) of sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium.

A comprehensive metabolic blood panel can test for additional electrolytes. A urine electrolyte test can measure levels of electrolytes like calcium, chloride, potassium, and sodium.

Normal electrolyte ranges include:

• serum sodium: 135-145 millimole/liter
• Serum potassium: 3.6-5.5 millimoles/liter
• Serum calcium: 8.8-10.7 milligrams/deciliter
• Serum magnesium: 1.46-2.68 milligram/deciliter
• Bicarbonate: 23-30 millimole/liter
• Phosphorus: 3.4-4.5 milligrams/deciliter

Levels below or above these amounts are considered abnormal, but ranges may vary.

An electrolyte imbalance occurs when you have too many or too few electrolytes in your blood. This imbalance can make it difficult for your brain and muscles to function.

In rare cases, a serious electrolyte imbalance can be life-threatening.

Hyponatremia, or low sodium levels, is the most common type of electrolyte imbalance. Other types of electrolyte imbalances include:

• High sodium levels (hypernatremia)
• High or low potassium levels (hyperkalemia or hypokalemia)
• High or low calcium levels (hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia)
• High or low magnesium levels (hypermagnesemia or hypomagnesemia)

What causes an imbalance?

Dehydration caused by excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea is the leading cause of electrolyte imbalance because it depletes your body of electrolytes, often before you can replace them.

Injuries and health conditions can also cause electrolyte imbalances, including:

• Kidney disease
• Eating disorders
• Substance Use
• Cancer
• Sepsis
• Liver disease
• Pulmonary conditions
• Conditions of the gastrointestinal tract
• Diabetes
• Severe burns
• Recent surgery

Seriously ill people and the elderly are more likely to suffer from electrolyte imbalances. Diets low in electrolyte sources also increase the risk of developing an electrolyte imbalance.

What does it do?

Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance vary depending on the electrolytes out of balance and the level of the imbalance.

Electrolyte imbalances can cause cardiac, muscular and neurological symptoms, such as:

In severe cases of electrolyte imbalances, you may experience problems such as:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Seizures
• Death

What are your treatment options?

Mild electrolyte imbalances can be treated by eating electrolyte foods or supplementing with electrolyte drinks. For example, eating salty snacks and drinking water can help replenish your sodium levels and rehydrate you.

Moderate to severe electrolyte imbalances will require additional treatments specific to the cause of the imbalance. Treatments may include:

• Changing hydration levels: You may receive intravenous (IV) fluids if you are dehydrated. If you are too hydrated, you may need to take diuretics to remove excess fluid when you pee.
• Supplement electrolytes: Oral or IV electrolyte supplements can help restore levels. Some people may be prescribed a specific diet to increase their intake of certain electrolytes.
• Treat underlying medical conditions: If a health problem is causing an electrolyte imbalance, your doctor will treat this problem. This may also involve changing medications if they affect your electrolyte balance.

People with a serious electrolyte imbalance will be monitored and undergo additional testing to ensure their electrolyte levels return to normal.

You can take preventative measures to avoid an electrolyte imbalance. The best ways to prevent an electrolyte imbalance include:

• Eat a nutritious and balanced diet
• Stay hydrated
• Drink fluids with supplemental electrolytes if you experience vomiting or diarrhea
• Drink fluids with supplemental electrolytes in extreme heat or prolonged endurance activities
• Do not drink too many fluids or electrolyte drinks when you are already hydrated