Importance of Electrolyte Balance in the Body Reaction
It's extremely important for the electrolytes in your body to be in balance so your bodily functions run smoothly. Exercise, excessive heat and even simply aging can put these essential elements out of whack, and you in the hospital. If the balance is off, you may suffer from a variety of conditions and illnesses, including muscle cramps, confusion, fatigue and heart palpitations.
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What Are Electrolytes
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The most important electrolytes in the body are sodium, potassium and calcium. There are others (including magnesium, chloride and carbonate) but illness is most commonly associated with an imbalance of sodium, potassium and calcium levels. An electrolyte imbalance can lead to heat stroke and heart problems as well as problems with balance, numbness and fatigue.
Causes of Imbalances
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Electrolyte imbalances can be caused by a variety of factors, but most often occur together with a hydration problem. Profuse sweating, excessive diarrhea and fever can all contribute to an electrolyte imbalance, since both potassium and sodium are excreted in water. A system-wide infection such as sepsis can also cause an imbalance, most notably in calcium levels that then impede the absorption of vitamin D. Drinking too much water while exercising can also cause an imbalance of electrolytes unless they are replaced.
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Diagnosing an Electrolyte Imbalance
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Electrolyte levels are easily detected through blood and urine analysis.
Treatment for Electrolyte Imbalances
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Once the imbalance has been diagnosed, your physician will need to find the cause and treat it. The use of diuretics, underlying kidney disease and a thyroid problems can all cause electrolyte imbalances, but in many cases the problem is temporarily caused by illnesses such as stomach viruses and fever and can be treated by drinking an electrolyte rich beverage such as Pedialyte or Gatorade.
Warning
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Consult a doctor if you don't feel better after drinking an electrolyte beverage--in some cases an electrolyte imbalance is indicative of a more serious problem.
When you are sick, try to include an electrolyte beverage in your daily liquid intake.
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