In the world of chemistry, electrolytes are basically substances that contain free ions which make the substances electrically conductive in nature. The most common electrolyte is an ionic solution, although molten and solid electrolytes are also found. Electrolytes - what are they? Well, electrolytes in the body are nothing but minerals like sodium, potassium, etc. that get dissolved in the blood. When these electrolytes are dissolved, they split into smaller particles called ions. These ions are electrically charged, which means they either carry a positive charge or a negative charge. These charged ions produce electricity that help in the functioning of the bodies of human beings and animals. It would not be wrong to say that electrolytes are the batteries for a human or animal body. Electrolytes are commonly found in solutions of acids and bases as well as in salts.
Electrolytes are important for the functioning of your body because they are used by your body to maintain voltages across the cell membranes and for carrying electrical impulses through themselves to the other cells in your body. The kidneys present in the body are responsible for maintaining the concentrations of electrolytes in the blood constant in spite of the major changes that take place in the body while carrying out any daily activity.
When you work out and sweat heavily, you feel tired because your body loses electrolytes like sodium and potassium. These electrolytes need to be replaced to maintain the concentration of electrolytes in your body fluids constant. That is why, the energy drinks and sports drinks have a high electrolyte content in them. Similarly, when you suffer from severe diarrhea or any kind of vomiting, you actually lose electrolytes in the body. These lost electrolytes should be replaced to maintain the concentration of the electrolyte content and body fluids so as to prevent dehydration and seizures.
Your body requires certain specific levels of different chemical compounds to function properly. The most important electrolytes that your body needs are sodium, potassium and chloride. As far as human health goes, electrolytes aid in numerous body processes. A lot of heart and nerve processes, muscle coordination and your body's ability to absorb fluids depend on the concentration of electrolytes in your body. Calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and chloride are the most commonly found electrolytes in human body. If you consume excessive electrolytes, your kidneys help in filtering them. The hormones present in human body also help in regulation of the consumption of electrolytes. Consuming excessive or insufficient amounts of electrolytes like sodium can cause severe health issues like hyper or hyponatremia (excessive or insufficient levels of sodium) and hyperkalemia and hypokalemia (excessive and insufficient levels of potassium respectively). Eating disorders and serious alcoholism also causes an imbalance of electrolytes in the body.
Electrolytes act as key catalysts in numerous enzymatic reactions in the body, needed by the cells to convert proteins into amino acids and to produce other organic molecules. The pancreas in your body produce certain kind of enzymes and acids that help in breaking down the food so as to digest it. If you drink a soft drink that has high electrolyte content, 30 minutes prior to your meal, it will moisten and recharge the tissue lining around the digestive tract. Thus, when you have the meal, the membranes in your body and microorganisms get ready to digest food. It also helps in the process of absorption.
The nervous system of our body also requires electrolytes for its collective coordination. Due to the exchange of electrolytes like sodium and potassium ions through the nerve membrane, the nerve impulses are transmitted. Every nerve membrane is wrapped with long tendrils of protein. At the end of this tendril, a calcium ion is attached without which there can be no sense of smell, taste, vision, touch and even awareness. The vitamins, hormones and the enzymes that help in activating, regulating and synchronizing the nervous action, all need an electrolyte ion as a key factor in the structure of their reaction and for the synthesis. For example, a cobalt ion is essential for the pineal gland to produce melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps in regulation of neurological activity to determine the level of sleep or wakefulness. This was all you needed to know about 'electrolytes - what are they', and electrolytes in the body. But electrolytes are also used for unlocking the energy flow in a cell. The electric sparks that produce fire, that you might have seen before are also caused due to the ions of the electrolytes.
Certain minerals or electrolytes like sodium chloride (salt), potassium and calcium are required by the human body in order to carry out specific functions. These minerals are present in all bodily fluids like blood, urine, etc. However, sometimes the level of electrolytes in the body increases or decreases due to certain reasons. This condition is known as electrolyte imbalance. It is also known as the body salt imbalance or the body chemical imbalance. Let us take a look at the causes of electrolyte imbalance in detail.
One of the most common cause of this condition is dehydration. In most of the cases, electrolyte imbalance results due to dehydration caused after a strenuous exercise regime. Electrolyte imbalance accompanies several underlying diseases and disorders. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, diarrhea, vomiting, renal failure are some conditions that can cause electrolyte imbalance. On the other hand, eating disorders, alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, malabsorption, hormonal disorders, etc. are also some common reasons for having an electrolyte imbalance in the body. Sometimes, certain medications like diuretics, antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs may also lead to electrolyte imbalance. Let us now take a look at electrolyte imbalance signs and symptoms in detail.
Electrolyte imbalance can occur due to change in level of any of the above mentioned minerals. The following are the common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance.
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Muscle spasms
Weakness
Restlessness
Nausea
Dizziness
Confusion
Fainting
Irritability
Vomiting
Dry mouth
Trembling
Another common symptom is infrequent urination or passing dark-colored urine. The person may not feel like urinating for nearly 7-8 hours. On the other hand, in case of severe electrolyte imbalance, following symptoms may also be seen.
Coma
Slow heart rate
Seizures
Palpitations
Low blood pressure
Lack of coordination
Constipation
Stiff joints
It is very essential to identify electrolyte imbalance symptoms in order to get them treated as soon as possible. The doctor will advise you to undertake blood and urine test as it will help diagnose the condition. An X-ray will also aid in diagnosing the underlying conditions leading to electrolyte imbalance. The treatment for electrolyte imbalance is based on the causes and gravity of the condition. Eating foods containing potassium and calcium can help in treating electrolyte imbalance caused due to minor conditions. Secondly, having electrolyte containing drinks can also help in treating this condition. In more severe cases, IV (intravenous) fluids are used to bring the electrolyte level to normal.
If you identify the symptoms, you can have water immediately to overcome dehydration associated with electrolyte imbalance. On the other hand, people undertaking sports activities need to have sports drink or electrolyte drinks as drinking water does not provide all the essential minerals and electrolytes. If the symptoms worsen or one cannot identify and relate the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance, he should consult the doctor immediately.
As preventive measure, you should be careful while undertaking exercise and other sports activities. You can prevent dehydration by drinking adequate amounts of fluids and water, especially in the summer season. On the other hand, you should not be under the illusion that dehydration takes place only during summer, as there are chances of suffering from electrolyte imbalance even in winter. Lastly, note that having a well-balanced diet helps in preventing electrolyte imbalance to a great extent. Take care!