Maintaining electrolyte balance -
If levels are too high, the treatment depends on the cause of the excess. If the body loses water without losing electrolytes, this can lead to an excess, and the treatment involves an infusion of water and glucose.
Healthcare professionals typically treat low levels by supplementing the needed electrolyte. The type of treatment will also depend on the severity of the imbalance.
However, the symptoms of an imbalance can be severe, and a person may need to be hospitalized and monitored during the treatment. Doctors mainly use this to treat an electrolyte shortage alongside dehydration, which tends to follow severe diarrhea.
The World Health Organization WHO has approved a solution for oral rehydration therapy that contains:. In more severe cases of an electrolyte shortage, healthcare professionals may administer the electrolyte orally or through an IV drip.
An infusion of saltwater solution or compound sodium lactate, for example, can help treat a shortage of sodium.
Some causes of an electrolyte shortage, such as kidney disease, are not preventable. In general, having a well-managed diet can help reduce the risk of low electrolyte levels.
Also, having a moderate amount of a sports drink during or after any kind of exertion or exercise can help limit the effects of losing electrolytes through sweat. For people who do not need treatment in a hospital, a doctor may recommend dietary changes or supplements to balance electrolyte concentrations.
When levels of an electrolyte are too low, it is important to have foods and drinks that contain high amounts of that electrolyte. Here are some options:. It is worth knowing how much of each electrolyte is in a type of food or drink.
The Department of Agriculture has a searchable database of nutritional contents. Supplements are also an option for managing low levels of an electrolyte.
For example, older adults often do not consume enough potassium, and treatments with corticosteroids or diuretic medications can also reduce these levels. In this case, potassium tablets can boost the concentration in the blood. Some sports drinks, gels, and candies can restore levels of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium during and after exercise.
They can also help the body retain water. However, these products sometimes contain high electrolyte contents, and consuming too much can lead to an excess. Some also contain high levels of sugar.
It is important to carefully follow any treatment or supplementation plan that a health professional recommends. Restoring the balance of electrolytes by making dietary changes should lead to an improvement in symptoms. If it does not, a doctor may order further tests to identify any underlying health conditions that may be causing the imbalance.
Recommended intakes of some of the most common electrolytes are as follows:. An imbalance can affect the way the body works and lead to a range of symptoms. For example, if a person feels faint after a workout, an electrolyte imbalance could be one reason.
Consuming electrolytes during or after intense exercise and other periods of profuse sweating can help preserve the balance. Be sure to stay hydrated at all times. Anyone with concerns should contact a healthcare professional. Healthy potassium levels support kidney function, moderate blood pressure, bone strength, and muscle mass.
Here, learn how much is right and where to…. Learn where you can find electrolytes in food and drink, including the best dietary sources of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.
What are electrolyte drinks and how can a person make one at home? The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: Sources.
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. May 13, Written By Corey Whelan.
Share this article. Read this next. What is an Electrolyte Imbalance and How Can You Prevent It? Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R.
Electrolyte Water: Benefits and Myths. All About Electrolyte Imbalance Electrolytes are naturally occurring minerals that control important bodily functions. Here's what you need to know about electrolyte imbalance, its… READ MORE.
Electrolytes: Definition, Functions, Imbalance and Sources. Is Gatorade Bad for You? Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. Blood Tests for Hemochromatosis. Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD. What to Know About Gaucher Disease Type 3. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What to Know About Gaucher Disease Type 2.
What to Know About Secondary Hemochromatosis. Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP. Your Guide to Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome and Its Treatment.
More than half of a person's body weight is water. Doctors think about water in the body as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are. The body needs relatively large quantities of Calcium Chloride Magnesium read more —especially the macrominerals minerals the body needs in relatively large amounts —are important as electrolytes.
Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge when they are dissolved in a liquid, such as blood. The blood electrolytes—sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate—help regulate nerve and muscle function and maintain acid-base balance Overview of Acid-Base Balance An important part of being healthy is for the blood to maintain a normal degree of acidity or alkalinity.
The acidity or alkalinity of any solution, including blood, is indicated on the pH scale Fat tissue has a lower percentage of water than lean tissue and women tend to have more fat, so the percentage read more , which have to be maintained in a normal range for the body to function.
Electrolytes, particularly sodium Overview of Sodium's Role in the Body Sodium is one of the body's electrolytes, which are minerals that the body needs in relatively large amounts. Electrolytes carry an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids such as blood read more , help the body maintain normal fluid levels in the fluid compartments because the amount of fluid a compartment contains depends on the amount concentration of electrolytes in it.
If the electrolyte concentration is high, fluid moves into that compartment a process called osmosis. Likewise, if the electrolyte concentration is low, fluid moves out of that compartment.
Maintaining electrolyte balance help Maintainung produce energy, Hunger and nutrition programs hydration, and valance muscle contractions like Resistance training benefits Cholesterol control diet the heart beating. Certain prepared electrilyte, as well as Maintauning foods like spinach, turkey, and oranges, contain them. The amount of electrolytes you Maintaining electrolyte balance on a daily electroylte varies and is based on several factors, including:. Most people get enough electrolytes from the daily foods and beverages they take in. In some instances, electrolyte beverages such as sports drinks may be a good way for you to quickly replace fluids, carbohydrates, and electrolytes that you lost during extreme activity. Electrolytes leave the body through sweat and urine. If you sweat a lot, exercise in hot weather, or work out vigorously for more than an hour or two, you may benefit from drinking electrolyte beverages before, during, and after your workout. Injury prevention through mindful nutrition are essential minerals—like sodium, calcium, electtrolyte potassium—that are vital to many key functions Maintainnig the body. They're often Nutrient absorption in the body about Slectrolyte association with dehydration and mentioned in ads for sports drinks that promise to replace electrolytes lost through sweat. But why does your body need them and what's the best way to get them? We asked Cedars-Sinai clinical dietitians Erika Der Sarkissian and Christina Fasulo. Erika Der Sarkissian: They do a lot in the body.
Welche Phrase...