How to Prevent an Electrolyte Imbalance

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How to Prevent an Electrolyte Imbalance
Written by Susan York Morris
Medically Reviewed by Natalie Butler, RD, LD on May 18, 2015
OverviewElectrolytesImbalanceSymptomsCall 911TreatmentPreventionRead This Next
Part 1 of 7
Fluids in Your Body
Athletes have been swigging electrolyte replenishers since 1965. That was the year a Florida Gators' coach asked doctors why his players were wilting so quickly in the heat -- their answer? The players were losing too many electrolytes. Their solution was to invent Gatorade. So, what are electrolytes and why are they important?

Water and electricity are essential to your health. At birth your body contains about 75 to 80 percent water. By the time you're an adult, the percentage of water in your body drops to approximately 60 percent if you're a male and 55 percent if you're a female. The volume of water in your body will continue to decrease as you age.

Fluid in your body contains things such as cells, proteins, glucose, and electrolytes. Electrolytes come from the food and liquids you consume. Salt, potassium, calcium, and chloride are examples of electrolytes.

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Part 2 of 7
Electricity and Your Body
Charge It Up
On an average day, your body produces about 100 watts of electricity.
Electrolytes take on a positive or negative charge when they dissolve in your body fluid. This enables them to conduct electricity and move electrical charges or signals throughout your body. These charges are crucial to many functions that keep you alive, including the operation of your brain, nerves, and muscles, and the creation of new tissue.

Each electrolyte plays a specific role in your body. The following are some of the most important electrolytes and their primary functions:

Sodium

helps control fluids in the body, impacting blood pressure
necessary for muscle and nerve function
helps balance electrolytes
Chloride

helps balance electrolytes
balances acidity and alkalinity, which helps maintain a healthy pH
essential to digestion
Potassium

regulates your heart and blood pressure
helps balance electrolytes
aids in transmitting nerve impulses
contributes to bone health
necessary for muscle contraction
Magnesium

important to the production of DNA and RNA
contributes to nerve and muscle function
helps maintain heart rhythm
helps regulate blood glucose levels
enhances your immune system
Calcium

key component of bones and teeth
important to the movement of nerve impulses and muscle movement
contributes to blood clotting
Phosphate

strengthens bones and teeth
helps cells produce the energy needed for tissue growth and repair
Bicarbonate

helps your body maintain a healthy pH
regulates heart function
Part 3 of 7
When Electrolytes Become Unbalanced
Fluids are found inside and outside the cells of your body. The levels of these fluids should be fairly consistent. On average, about 40 percent of fluids are inside the cells and 20 percent are outside the cells. Electrolytes help your body juggle these values in order to maintain a healthy balance inside and outside your cells.

It's normal for electrolyte levels to fluctuate. Sometimes, though, your electrolyte levels can become imbalanced. This can result in your body creating too many or not enough minerals or electrolytes. A number of things can cause an electrolyte imbalance, including:

fluid loss from heavy exercise or physical activity
vomiting and diarrhea
medications such as diuretics, antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs
alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver
heart failure
kidney disease
diabetes
eating disorders
severe burns
some forms of cancer
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Part 4 of 7
Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalance
Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance vary depending on which electrolytes are most affected. Common symptoms include:

nausea
lethargy
fluid retention
Part 5 of 7
Call 911
Electrolyte imbalances can be life threatening. Call 911 if someone has the following symptoms:

confusion or sudden change in behavior
severe muscle weakness
rapid or irregular heartbeat
seizures
chest pain
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Part 6 of 7
Treatment
Treatment is determined by the cause of the electrolyte imbalance, the severity of the imbalance, and by the type of electrolyte that's either in short supply or over abundant. Treatment options normally include either an increase or decrease of fluids. Mineral supplements may be given by mouth or intravenously if depleted.


Part 7 of 7
Preventing Electrolyte Imbalance
Death by Water Intoxication
In 2002, Boston Marathon runner Dr. Cynthia Lucero collapsed at the 22-mile mark. She never regained consciousness. Dr. Lucero's death was due to water intoxication, or hyponatremia. This electrolyte disorder occurs when you drink too much fluid and your body doesn't have enough sodium. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that 13 percent of runners tested in that marathon had hyponatremia.
The International Marathon Medical Director's Association offers the following guidelines for maintaining good hydration and electrolyte balance during activity:

If your urine is clear to straw colored before a race or workout, you're well hydrated.
You should drink a sports drink containing electrolytes and carbohydrates if your sporting event or workout lasts longer than 30 minutes.
Drinking water with a sports drink decreases the beverage's benefits.
Drink when you're thirsty. Don't feel you must constantly replenish fluids.
Although the needs of each individual differ, a general rule of thumb is to limit fluids to 4-6 ounces every 20 minutes of a race.
Seek immediate medical advice if you lose more than 2 percent of your body weight or if you gain weight after running.
Serious emergencies from electrolyte imbalances are rare. But it's important to your health and, if you're an athlete, your performance to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance.

Article resources
Almond, C. S. D, Shin, A. Y., Fortescue, E. B. et al. (2005, April 14). Hyponatremia among runners in the Boston Marathon. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(15), 1550-1556. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15829535?dopt=Abstract
Cotter, J. D., Thornton, S. N., Lee, J. K., & Laursen, P. B. (2014). Are we being drowned in hydration advice? Thirsty for more? Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 3, 18. doi:10.1186/2046-7648-3-18. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4212586/
LaBonta, L. (2014, December 6). Human energy converted to electricity. Retrieved from http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2014/ph240/labonta1/
Maharam, L. G., Hew, T., Siegel, A., Adner, M., Adams, B., & Pujol, P. (2006, May 6). IMMDA's Revised Fluid Recommendations for Runners and Walkers. Retrieved from http://www.aims-association.org/guidelines_fluid_replacement.htm
Rhoades, R. (2009). Medical physiology: Principles for clinical medicine (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=1kGcFOKCUzkC&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=extracellular+fluid+20%25&source=bl&ots=5pSFhL4urQ&sig=C0udHJmwfi-CEJzuKJXOMnpAarw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fNtUVdWRHMvfoATeloDABA&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=extracellular%20fluid%2020%25&f=false
The gatorade company fact sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/public/downloads/lesson-plans/The_Gatorade_Company_Fact_Sheet.pdf
The water in you. (2015, May 5). Retrieved from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html
2005 American heart association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. (2005, November 28). Circulation, 112, IV-121-IV-125. Retrieved from http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/24_suppl/IV-121.full




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