Electrolyte Disorder

Electrolyte disturbances are a condition when the electrolyte levels in the body are unbalanced, either too high or too low. An imbalance in electrolyte levels can cause various symptoms, ranging from nausea, diarrhea, to muscle cramps.

In the human body, there are several types of electrolytes, namely sodium, potassium , calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and phosphorus. These electrolytes can be obtained from food, drink, and supplements.

Electrolytes are needed by the body to keep the organs in the body functioning normally. Some body functions that are affected by electrolytes are heart rhythm, muscle contractions, and brain function.

Causes of Electrolyte Disorders

The causes of electrolyte disturbances vary, depending on the type of electrolyte in the body that is experiencing an imbalance. For example, the cause of a phosphate deficiency will be different from that of a magnesium deficiency.

However, electrolyte disturbances generally occur due to excessive loss of body fluids, such as from having extensive burns, excessive sweating, diarrhea , or vomiting continuously. Side effects of some drugs can also cause electrolyte disturbances.

The following are various types of electrolytes and the factors that can cause their levels in the body to be disturbed:

1. Phosphate

Phosphates function to strengthen bones and teeth, produce energy, and form cell layers. If the phosphate level in the body is excessive (hyperphosphatemia), it can cause problems in the muscles and bones, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Hyperphosphatemia can occur due to several factors, namely:

Taking laxatives (laxatives) that contain phosphate in excess
Experiencing complications from cancer treatment (tumor lysis syndrome)
Have an underactive parathyroid gland
Have low calcium levels
Suffering from chronic kidney failure
Experiencing shortness of breath
Have a muscle injury

Meanwhile, phosphate deficiency or hypophosphatemia can occur due to the following factors:

Suffering from severe malnutrition due to anorexia or starvation
Excessive alcohol consumption
Has severe burns
Having diabetes complications ( diabetic ketoacidosis )
Suffering from Fanconi syndrome, which is a kidney disorder that causes the absorption and release of certain substances in the body to become abnormal
Suffer from vitamin D deficiency
Have overactive parathyroid glands
Suffering from chronic diarrhea

Hypophosphatemia can also occur due to certain medications, such as iron, niacin (vitamin B3), antacids, diuretics, corticosteroids , bisphosphonates, acyclovir , paracetamol, or asthma medications.

2. Chloride

Chloride is a type of electrolyte that functions to maintain the pH balance in the blood and transmit nerve impulses. Chloride levels are regulated by the kidneys, so if there is an imbalance of chlorides, it may be due to kidney damage.

The following are some of the factors that can cause excess chloride (hyperchloremia) in the body:

Have a disturbance in blood pH ( metabolic acidosis or respiratory alkalosis)
Taking acetazolamide long term

Meanwhile, chloride deficiency (hypochloremia) can occur due to several factors, such as:

Suffering from prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
Have a chronic lung disease, such as emphysema
Suffering from heart failure
Disruption of blood pH ( metabolic alkalosis )
Taking laxatives, diuretics, or corticosteroids

3. Sodium/Sodium

Sodium functions to maintain the balance of body fluids and regulate nerve function and muscle contractions. The following are several factors that can cause a person to experience excess sodium (hypernatremia):

Suffering from severe dehydration
Experiencing loss of body fluids due to fever
Suffering from diarrhea
Experiencing vomiting
Suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis
Taking corticosteroid drugs
Too much sweating due to excessive exercise

Meanwhile, a person can experience sodium / sodium deficiency ( hyponatremia ) due to the following factors:

Suffer from malnutrition
Have thyroid, adrenal, or hypothalamic disorders
Suffering from kidney failure
Suffering from heart failure
Having alcohol addiction
Taking diuretics or anticonvulsants

4. Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that is essential for the function of organs, nerves, muscles, and body cells. Calcium is also useful for blood clotting and bone health. However, excess levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) can cause various symptoms, including headaches, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and bone pain.

A person is at risk for hypercalcemia if they have the following conditions:

Suffering from kidney disease
Suffering from thyroid disorders, such as hyperparathyroidism
Taking certain medications, such as lithium, theophylline, or diuretics
Have a lung disease, such as tuberculosis (TB) or sarcoidosis
Suffering from certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer and breast cancer
Taking antacids or vitamin D supplements in excess

Lack of calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia) is also not good for health, because it can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis . This condition can occur due to several factors, namely:

Suffering from pancreatitis
Suffering from kidney failure
Suffering from prostate cancer
Suffer from vitamin D deficiency
Taking heparin or anticonvulsants

5. Potassium/Potassium

Potassium plays an important role in regulating heart function, as well as maintaining nerve and muscle function. Potassium levels in the body can exceed normal ( hyperkalemia ) if a person has factors such as the following:

Suffering from kidney failure
Suffering from severe dehydration
Taking diuretic drugs or blood pressure lowering drugs
Suffering from complications of diabetes, such as diabetic ketoacidosis

Meanwhile, several factors that can increase a person's risk of experiencing a deficiency in potassium levels ( hypokalemia ) are:

Suffering from eating disorders
Experiencing dehydration
Suffering from vomiting and diarrhea
Taking laxatives, diuretics, or insulin

6. Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral that functions to regulate nerve function, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Magnesium also plays a role in maintaining heart health, producing energy for the body, and maintaining bone health.

Excess levels of magnesium ( hypermagnesemia ) can cause muscle weakness, slow reflexes, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, slow or irregular heart rate, slower breathing than usual, and even fainting.

A person is at risk of experiencing hypermagnesemia if they have factors such as the following:

Experiencing an overdose of magnesium supplements
Suffering from kidney failure
Suffering from certain diseases, such as hypothyroidism and Addison's disease
Has extensive burns
Taking certain medications, such as lithium , antacids, or laxatives

Not only excess, magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia) can also cause various health problems, including tremors , muscle twitches, insomnia, tingling, numbness, palpitations ( tachycardia ), confusion, and seizures.

The following are several factors that can increase a person's risk of experiencing hypomagnesemia:

Suffering from heart failure
Suffer from malnutrition
Taking diuretics, insulin, or chemotherapy drugs
Suffering from chronic diarrhea
Having alcohol addiction
Excessive sweating, for example due to excessive exercise

Risk Factors for Electrolyte Disorders

Anyone can have electrolyte disturbances, but people with the following conditions are more prone to experiencing them:

Suffer from an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia
Have problems with the thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal glands
Taking certain drugs, such as corticosteroids, insulin, laxatives, or diuretics
Suffering from heart failure
Having alcohol addiction
Has extensive burns
Suffering from kidney disease
Had a broken bone
Suffering from cirrhosis

Symptoms of Electrolyte Disorders

Mild electrolyte disturbances generally have no symptoms. Symptoms usually begin to appear when the condition is getting worse. The following are symptoms that can arise due to an imbalance in electrolyte levels in the body:

Headache
Weak
Nauseous
Vomit
Diarrhea
Constipation
Fast heart rate
Muscle cramp
Frequent urination
Seizure
tingling
Numb
stomach cramps
Confusion
Easy to get angry

When to go to the doctor

Immediately see a doctor if you feel symptoms of electrolyte disturbances. The reason is, if not treated immediately, electrolyte disturbances can cause serious health problems that can even cause death.

Diagnosis of Electrolyte Disorders

To diagnose electrolyte disorders, the doctor will ask questions about the symptoms experienced, medical history, and medications that the patient is currently taking. After that, the doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, especially an examination to determine the patient's body reflexes.

In order to make the diagnosis more accurate, the doctor will also perform several supporting examinations, such as:

Blood tests, to measure electrolyte levels and check kidney function
Urine test, to measure levels of several types of electrolytes (limited), such as calcium, chloride, potassium, and sodium
Electrocardiogram (ECG), to measure heart rhythm in cases of severe electrolyte disturbances

Other investigations may also be performed, depending on the patient's health condition. The examination aims to find out the underlying cause of electrolyte disturbances.

Treatment of Electrolyte Disorders

Treatment in patients with electrolyte disturbances depends on the type of electrolyte in the body experiencing the imbalance and the underlying cause. However, in essence, the goal of treatment is to restore the balance of electrolyte levels in the body.

Some treatments that can be done to restore the balance of electrolyte levels in the body are:

Giving intravenous fluids containing sodium chloride, to restore body fluids and electrolyte levels that have decreased due to diarrhea or vomiting
Administering drugs through a vein (injecting), to increase electrolyte levels in the blood, such as calcium or potassium
Administration of drugs or supplements (oral medication), to treat chronic electrolyte disturbances

If the patient's condition does not improve with the above treatments, some conditions of electrolyte disturbances require special measures, such as hemodialysis ( dialysis ) to treat excess potassium in the blood.