Electrolyte Imbalance Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Electrolyte Imbalance are conditions when one or several types of electrolytes are lower or excessive than normal levels.
Generally, this condition does not occur by itself but is triggered by certain medical conditions.
Actually, under normal conditions, the human body contains several types of electrolytes, such as sodium (sodium), potassium (potassium), calcium, chloride, magnesium, and phosphate.
Electrolytes found in blood, body fluids, and urine are normally needed by the body so that cells can carry out all their functions properly.
If electrolyte Imbalance are severe, dangerous conditions can occur, such as loss of consciousness, seizures, and even sudden cardiac arrest.
Medically, several types of conditions are specific for electrolyte Imbalance, for example:
- Hypernatremia (excess sodium in the blood)
- Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood)
- Hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood)
- Hypocalcemia (lack of calcium in the blood)
- Hyperphosphatemia (excess phosphate in the blood)
- Hypophosphatemia (lack of phosphate in the blood)
- Hyperkalemia (excess potassium in the blood)
- Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
- Hypermagnesemia (excess magnesium in the blood)
- Hypomagnesemia (lack of magnesium in the blood)
- Hyperchloremia (excess chloride in the blood)
- Hypochloremia (lack of chloride in the blood)
Electrolyte Disorders
| Medical specialist | Internal medicine specialist |
| Symptoms | Weakness, heart rhythm Imbalance, seizures, decreased consciousness |
| Risk Factors | Dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting |
| Diagnosis | History, physical examination, blood electrolytes, EKG |
| Treatment | Oral therapy, intravenous, dialysis |
| Drug | Electrolyte replacement solutions, intravenous electrolytes |
| Complications | Heart rhythm Imbalance, decreased consciousness |
| When to See a Doctor? | Does not improve with electrolyte replacement solutions, moderate to severe symptoms |
Symptoms
Symptoms of electrolyte Imbalance really depend on how severe the condition is and the type of electrolyte disturbance.
If electrolyte levels only decrease or increase slightly than normal, generally no symptoms are felt.
However, if the levels change significantly enough, sufferers can experience various disturbing symptoms.
In addition, the symptoms of electrolyte Imbalance can differ depending on the type. However, common symptoms that occur can include:
- Heart rhythm Imbalance, which can be in the form of a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weak and easily tired
- seizures
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- stomach cramps
- Muscle weakness so that the hands and feet become difficult to move
- Headache
- Numbness or tingling
- Loss of consciousness, and even coma
If one of these complaints occurs, immediate medical attention is needed.
Otherwise, certain electrolyte Imbalance can interfere with other electrolyte components and can lead to life-threatening conditions.
Reason
Actually, humans lose minerals every day, for example when sweating, urinating, or defecating.
However, this is not a problem because the minerals are immediately replaced when you drink or eat foods containing these minerals.
It’s just that, if you don’t immediately replace the lost minerals in large quantities, electrolyte Imbalance can occur. For example, in conditions of prolonged vomiting and diarrhea.
In addition, other causes of electrolyte Imbalance are:
- Extensive burns
- Side effects of certain drugs such as diuretic class drugs used to treat hypertension or heart failure
- Kidney failure, both acute and chronic
- Parathyroid hormone disorders can be either hyper parathyroid or hypo parathyroid
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy side effects
- Malnutrition and excessive dieting
- Liver failure (cirrhosis)
- Thyroid hormone disorders can be hyperthyroid or hypothyroid
Risk Factors
In addition, people who have the following conditions tend to be prone to suffer from electrolyte Imbalance in the body:
- Thyroid and parathyroid problems
- Chronic respiratory disease
- Eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia
- Heart failure
- Adrenal gland disorders
- Addiction to drinking alcohol
- Burns
- Impaired kidney function
- Liver cirrhosis
- Broken bones
Diagnosis
To make a diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a medical interview or anamnesis about the complaints you are experiencing. The doctor will also look for possible causes.
In addition, the doctor also thoroughly examines the patient’s physical condition, including examination of the muscles and nerves.
Then, to ensure there are electrolyte Imbalance and the degree of severity, the doctor will ask the patient to do a blood test to see the levels of each electrolyte in the blood.
If it is suspected that electrolyte Imbalance are causing heart rhythm Imbalance, an EKG (electrocardiogram) examination is needed to get a heart rhythm.
If electrolyte Imbalance are due to kidney disorders, kidney function checks, such as creatinine, urea, and BUN ( blood urea nitrogen ), also need to be done.
Treatment
Specific treatment for electrolyte disorders depends on the type of electrolyte disturbance and the type of disorder the body is experiencing (excess/deficient electrolytes).
However, in general, there are several treatments that are commonly used to treat electrolyte disorders, namely:
1. Giving Fluids Through Veins
Giving fluids through an IV is generally done in conditions of electrolyte Imbalance caused by loss of body fluids (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.).
The fluid that is usually given is sodium chloride.
2. Giving Electrolyte Drugs Through Veins
If there is a condition of severe electrolyte deficiency, to be able to overcome it quickly, it is necessary to administer electrolytes that are injected through a vein.
This treatment is generally done for conditions of potassium deficiency or calcium deficiency that cause severe symptoms.
In this condition, potassium or calcium will be injected into the blood vessels slowly.
3. Administration of Oral Electrolyte Drugs
Giving electrolytes through tablets that are taken is generally given in conditions of chronic electrolyte Imbalance, such as in conditions of chronic kidney failure or in hypoparathyroidism.
4. Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis (dialysis) needs to be done in conditions of severe electrolyte Imbalance, which cannot be overcome by administering drugs.
This action is generally needed in conditions of excess potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) which causes the heart to beat irregularly.
5. Medicine
Drug administration for patients with electrolyte Imbalance usually depends on the severity of each condition.
Basically, in conditions of mild electrolyte Imbalance, oral therapy is usually given such as electrolyte replacement solutions.
In moderate to severe conditions, it is usually treated by administering electrolytes intravenously according to the type of electrolyte that is experiencing a deficiency.
In addition, doctors often use the dialysis method to neutralize electrolyte balance Imbalance in the body caused by conditions of decreased kidney function to kidney failure.
Prevention
Not all electrolyte Imbalance can be prevented. However, electrolyte Imbalance caused by loss of body fluids can be prevented by consuming ORS if you experience vomiting or diarrhea.
You are also advised to consume sufficient amounts of water every day to prevent dehydration.
Complications
Conditions of severe electrolyte imbalance can cause heart rhythm Imbalance, decreased consciousness, and coma.
When to See a Doctor?
When experiencing moderate to severe dehydration which can increase the risk of electrolyte Imbalance, you should immediately see a doctor.