What is Electrolyte Imbalance?
An electrolyte imbalance is when the concentrations of certain blood minerals are either higher or lower than they should to be to contribute to important body processes. These are the 6 primary subsets of electrolyte imbalances:
- hyponatremia / hypernatremia - low or high blood sodium levels
- hypocalcemia / hypercalcemia - low or high blood calcium levels
- hypokalemia / hyperkalemia - low or high blood potassium levels
- hypomagnesemia / hypermagnesemia - low or high blood magnesium levels
- hypochloremia / hyperchloremia - low or high blood chlorine levels
- hypophosphatemia / hyperphosphatemia - low or high blood phosphate levels
It is possible to have different electrolyte imbalances occurring simultaneously, and they are more common for elderly people or those experiencing critical illness. Severe electrolyte imbalances may leads to serious health risks if the minerals are allowed to remain unbalanced.
What Causes Electrolyte Imbalance?
Electrolyte imbalances are most often caused medical conditions, disease, medication use, sickness or illness, dietary choices, malnutrition, dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune conditions, or alcohol abuse. Poor blood circulation may make people be more prone to electrolyte imbalances, and hyponatremia is experienced more regularly by people who do high-endurance athletics.
Type 2 diabetics develop hypomagnesemia more often than others, and individuals who get too much salt in their diet are at greater risk for both hypernatremia and hyperchloremia. Malnutrition is a leading factor in hypophosphatemia, and people who need to be on heart failure prevent medications (Beta, Angiotensin-II receptor blockers) have hyperkalemia more regularly.
Electrolyte Imbalance Symptoms
Headache, confusion, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, elevated heart rate, constipation muscle cramps and weakness, incoordination when walking, and bone pain are the most common electrolyte imbalance symptoms. Experiencing any of these symptoms will be based on the type of electrolyte imbalance, and some of them may occur with any type of imbalance. In severe cases electrolyte imbalances may cause heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, or coma.
Electrolyte Imbalance Treatment
The standard approach to electrolyte imbalance treatment is to orally supplement the minerals that are deficient in the blood. It may also be helpful to increase or decrease the amounts of certain foods in your diet to correct electrolyte imbalances. For more common ones like low blood sodium and low blood magnesium a person can often quickly address their imbalance by having an electrolyte sports drink.
