Electrolytes are called substances that, when dissolved, have electrical conductivity, which is their feature. In other words, they have an electric charge - positive (cations) or negative (anions). Formed during the dissociation of salts, acids and alkalis. The main electrolytes are sodium and potassium, as well as magnesium, iron, chlorine, phosphorus and calcium. All of them have their own norms and their own functions. Contained in blood plasma and urine.
General concepts
The balance of electrolytes in the human body is a condition for the existence of all chemical and biochemical processes, the perfect work of all organs and systems. It is possible to achieve the ideal balance by a balanced diet, limiting salt and observing the water regime.
The role of electrolytes in the human body is that without them physiological processes: stable homeostasis, metabolism, osteogenesis, muscle function, pulses of the nervous system, the passage of fluids from blood vessels to tissues, the stability of plasma osmolarity and the activation of many enzymes. For the arrangement of electrolyte ions, a cell membrane plays a role, or rather, its permeability. Thanks to them, nutrients penetrate the cells, and mining is brought out. This transfer is carried out by transporter proteins.
The electrolyte system in the body is electrically neutral, since the composition of cations and anions is constant.
Violation of VEB (electrolyte-water balance) always does not pass without a trace, this is a certain stress for the body. Such violations can be observed with poor nutrition, intense physical exertion, certain diseases, etc. At risk are primarily children and the elderly.
VEB violation
The causes of the imbalance are conditionally divided by origin into natural and pathological. Natural: excess salty foods, inadequate drinking, sweating, sports, poor diet. Such processes are normal and easily removable.
In severe physical exertion, water enriched with electrolytes should be drunk. You also need to increase foods rich in minerals. It is not practical to increase the consumption of products with an excess of electrolytes.
Pathological causes: diarrhea, prolonged use of diuretics, diabetes, a decrease in urine density, postoperative condition, poisoning with aspirin, hypertension, renal disease, etc. With the loss of fluid, useful salts are always lost, their amount must be replenished. To do this, either change the diet, or resort to medical treatment - depends on the severity of dehydration.
Urine electrolytes
Urine electrolytes are also important in overall balance. The main ones are potassium, chlorine and magnesium ions. The composition of human urine electrolytes varies with various pathologies: for example, the level of Ca in urine can increase with endocrinopathies, tumors, osteoporosis. The etiology can lie in physical inactivity, a passion for sunbathing, a lack of vitamin D, the use of foods containing calcium in large quantities.
A decrease in calcium levels occurs with hypothyroidism, rickets, nephritis, bone tumors, or metastases. Hypokalemia helps in determining hormonal disorders, renal pathologies, rationality of the menu.
Magnesium in the urine reveals diseases of the kidneys, vascular and nervous systems. It is valuable that magnesium in urine changes earlier than in blood, which is very indicative of early diagnosis. The level of sodium in the urine changes with severe forms of diabetes, diuretics, and head injuries.
At different times of the day, the body removes phosphorus in different ways (the amount increases after dinner), so daily urine analysis may be required to study.
Changes in this indicator will indicate an unbalanced diet, pathology of the kidneys, endocrine system or bones. The amount of chlorine, as a rule, changes after a similar state of sodium.
The role of sodium and potassium
Potassium and sodium are the two main electrolytes, they are needed for acid-base and water balance. They are responsible for water exchange: sodium ions attract and retain water, while potassium ions, on the contrary, repel water. That is, K and Na are antagonists in the struggle for water supplies in cells. If K turned out to be stronger, he will throw out part of the water and sodium from the cell, which will relieve swelling. If the balance of electrolytes in the body is observed, the potassium-sodium pump works without failures, there are no edema and dehydration.
The membrane protects the cell and allows useful substances to pass here. The daily norm in sodium for an adult is 0.09% of the total body weight, i.e., on average, a person should receive from 9 to 16 g of table salt. But it is present in some foods: celery, carrots, seaweed. Excess sodium gives a burden on the kidneys, so its amount should not exceed 5-6 g / day.
Potassium - this electrolyte for humans is important in that it stimulates the heart and protects blood vessels, is responsible for the healthy functioning of the brain. 98% of potassium is found in cells. Its functions:
- antihypoxic effect;
- slag removal;
- increased cardiac output;
- Elimination of arrhythmias;
- immune system support.
Normally, potassium in the blood in adults is 3.5-5.5 mmol / L.
Hyperkalemia occurs when:
- fasting;
- cramps
- hemolysis;
- dehydration;
- acidification of the body;
- pathology of the adrenal glands;
- long-term use of cytostatics and NSAIDs;
- excess potassium-containing foods.
The causes of hypokalemia are:
- intensity of physical activity;
- emotional overstrain;
- alcoholism;
- passion for coffee and sweets;
- taking diuretics is the main reason;
- swelling
- dyspepsia;
- hypoglycemia, taking laxatives;
- cystic fibrosis;
- hyperhidrosis.
Violation of the balance of electrolytes in the human body and the accompanying reduced potassium leads to a decrease in energy, muscles cannot fully contract, a person feels a tingling sensation in the muscles, because glucose is not absorbed - the main source of energy. Glycogen does not form on the part of the heart. There is a constant feeling of fatigue, shortness of breath at the most minimal exertion, weakness and pain in the heart - all these are signs of potassium deficiency. Various injuries also cause potassium loss. Many doctors with hypertension focus on replenishing sodium, forgetting about the greater importance of potassium. This item is best filled with food.
Important: with a prolonged increase in potassium, a stomach ulcer may develop or the heart may suddenly stop. Among products with a high content of this component, yam is in the lead, followed by tomatoes, beet tops, legumes, natural yogurt, sea fish, shellfish, dried apricots, carrots, pumpkins, bananas, milk.
Chlorine
Chlorine helps to balance pressure, reduce swelling, improves digestion, and the functioning of hepatocytes. Its norm in the blood for adults ranges from 97-108 mmol / l. With its deficiency, teeth and hair suffer - they fall out. Chlorine is rich in salt, olives, meat, milk and bread.
Calcium
Responsible for the normal functioning of the vascular system, strengthening the central nervous system, bone strength, maintaining heart rate stability.
The normal indicator of calcium is 2-2.8 mmol / l. Excess Ca occurs with hyperparathyroidism, bone cancer, thyrotoxicosis, spinal TB, gout, increased insulin, excess vitamin D.
Causes of decreased Ca: rickets, osteoporosis, thyroid hormone deficiency, pancreatitis, bile production deficiency, cytostatics and anticonvulsant drugs, cachexia. With a deficiency of Ca, a tendency to cramps appears. In adults, this most often occurs in the legs.
Sources of Ca: milk, white beans, sea fish, dried figs, cabbage, almonds, oranges, sesame seeds, algae. Absorption only in the presence of vitamin D.
Magnesium
Works independently or in conjunction with K and Ca. He is responsible for the brain and cardiac activity of the body, does not allow calculous cholecystitis to develop, and protects against stress.
The norm of magnesium in the blood is 0.65-1 mmol / L. Hypermagnesemia develops very rarely, with: hypothyroidism, kidney disease, dehydration.
Reasons for an excess of magnesium:
- strict diets;
- flatulence;
- helminthic infestations;
- pancreatic inflammation;
- malfunctioning of the thyroid gland;
- lack of vitamin D in infancy;
- heredity;
- an excess of calcium;
- alcoholization.
Sources of magnesium: oatmeal, bran bread, pumpkin seeds, nuts, fish, bananas, cocoa, sesame, potatoes.
Iron
Provides oxygen delivery to tissues and cells. Iron in the body in adults is 8.95-30.43 ฮผmol / L. With a lack of iron, anemia develops, immunity decreases, the skin becomes dry, muscle tone decreases. In addition to external manifestations, hypoxia of the most important body systems occurs. In children, growth stops.
Phosphorus
Actively involved in lipid metabolism, enzyme synthesis, glycolysis. With his participation, tooth enamel and bones are formed, and nerve impulses are transmitted. With its lack in children, there is a lag in mental and physical development. The norm in a healthy person is 0.87-1.45 mmol / l.
Hyperphosphatemia develops with: chemotherapy, taking antibiotics and diuretics, obesity, decreased parathyroid glands.
Causes of phosphorus reduction: steatorrhea, glomerulonephritis, hypovitaminosis D, gout, salicylate and insulin overdose, tumors.
Phosphorus products: yeast, pumpkin, sprouted mung bean, fish, meat, soy protein, eggs, nuts.
Common symptoms of pathology
With a deficiency of electrolytes in the human body, there are:
- Weakness.
- Dizziness.
- Arrhythmia.
- Significant deterioration in well-being.
- Fainting
- Muscle hypotension.
- The psyche of a person changes with electrolytes in the form of drowsiness, and apathy.
- Irritability.
- Bulimia and anorexia.
- The syndrome of excitation or inhibition prevails, etc.
- Swelling of the extremities.
- Paralysis.
- Damage to the kidneys.
The human psyche and electrolytes also have the closest relationship: with psychoemotional stresses, for example, the level of potassium, iron, and chlorine decreases. Such manifestations require a visit to the doctor and a blood test for electrolytes.
What happens with a loss?
With the loss of electrolytes in the human body in a natural way, performance decreases, but complete exhaustion rarely occurs, since the body requires compensation of all kinds. But it is not worth it to constantly violate VEB, because there is a chance of wear on organs and tissues.
How to replenish electrolytes in the body? To fully recover by natural methods, it is enough to drink enriched water and purposefully use the right products with certain electrolytes.
Electrolyte Assays
A study on electrolytes in the human body is necessary to detect all kinds of diseases, and first of all, for the diagnosis of renal and cardiac activity. Fasting venous blood is examined. The day before the analysis, it is necessary to completely stop drinking alcohol, do not smoke 30 minutes before donating blood. In the analysis, the content of Na, K, Cl in the blood is measured and the anionic โwindowโ is detected, then the difference between the number of cations and anions in the blood. The decryption is done by the doctor.
When you need such an analysis:
- metabolic disorders;
- incessant vomiting;
- stomach upset;
- bleeding;
- burns.
Also, a blood test for electrolytes allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment of the kidneys, liver, heart. It should be noted that a person can not always feel a lack or excess of any salt. Therefore, an examination is necessary.
Getting rid of a deficit
How to restore electrolytes in the body? There are 2 ways: natural and medication. About the natural method has already been said. This method is preferable, as a person becomes more attentive and disciplined, follows the correct diet constantly.
Sometimes only one electrolyte may be missed, so before a diet it is better to take an electrolyte test. Then it will become clear how to act and how to increase electrolytes in the body. In pharmacies, there is a wide selection of multivitamins with minerals in a convenient form. They are applicable for severe deficiencies or unwillingness to eat on a restricted diet. In addition, drinking electrolytes are available in tablets, granules and powders ("Orsol", "Torrox", "Nutrisal"). They are simply diluted with water. For the most part, they are considered elements of sports nutrition, because it is during training that there is a loss of salts with sweat. But electrolytes for drinking are also used for dehydration - for example, Regidron.
Medicines
In pharmacies there is not only a sufficient amount of the additives themselves, but also drugs that contribute to the better accumulation and use of electrolytes, i.e. balance normalizers. The most common additive is magnesium, which is produced in different formulations (Magnerot, Magne B6). Over-the-counter drugs, but this does not mean that they can be taken independently and indiscriminately. If the balance is not upset, then excess intake causes complications and excess salts in the body.
Prevention
Prevention consists of several points: this is a correct, balanced diet, maintaining healthy lifestyle, moderate physical activity and regular medical examinations. In order to maximize the result, these rules should always be followed - healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition (PP). Then even chronic heart pathologies recede. Prevention includes examinations, because otherwise you donโt understand how effective all your actions are. Moderate physical activity is also welcome, because then the work of all body systems improves.
It is clear that the electrolyte balance in the body is very important. Its violation can talk about various diseases. With the symptoms described above, an appropriate analysis should be taken and, with a lack of any elements, replenish them with medicines.