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Electrolytes Causes and effects of deficiency, supplementation

Homepage Articles Electrolytes Causes and effects of deficiency, supplementation

Electrolytes Causes and effects of deficiency, supplementation

But does anyone really know what electrolytes are and why they're so talked about? Surely you've heard about them many times, whether it's in the context of hot summer days, intense physical activity, or conditions of intense diarrhea and persistent vomiting.

Table of Contents

1. Electrolytes short description

This is due to the fact that it is the systemic fluids such as blood, plasma, or tissue fluids that are their main reservoir. The cation group includes electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Each of the above-mentioned electolites plays a very important role. They are small salt ion molecules found in the human body. They can exist as cations, i.e. positively charged ions, and as anions, which in turn are negative charge ions.

2. Electrolytes content in body fluids

Intracellular fluids, on the other hand, are characterized by a significantly different salt ion configuration. Source: Żak I., Medical Chemistry, Katowice 2001. As already mentioned, electrolytes are found in extracellular liquids, i.e. in plasma and so-called intracellular liquid, as well as in intra cellular fluid.

3. Electrolytes are the cause of electrolyte disorders

Because electrolytes are present in body fluids, any abnormalities associated with their excessive loss will affect the development of disorders associated with a decrease or increase in salt ion concentration. Absorption disorder or renal failure are listed as the most common factors associated with various types of disease units contributing to electrolite disorder. They may also be the result of complex units, but they do not have to be. Most often they may occur as a result of dehydration, which may result from the activity of water through the feeding ducts (feeding vessels, or kidneys), from the skin (expressed by intense physical exhaustion, or from excessive physical activity, which can occur for many days after physical contact with a person who is very ill.

4. Electrolytes dehydration as a result of electrolyte disorders

As already mentioned, dehydration is the result of disorders in the electrolyte economy and can take on a variety of forms. Dehydration states are extremely hazardous to health.

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The causes of hypotonic dehydration are similar to those mentioned in the above cases. In addition, during the course of this abnormality, water moves from the extracellular space to the intracellular. The main symptoms of this type of dehidration are swelling of the brain and any disorders associated with a hypothalamic shock. is characterized by excessive water loss with a simultaneous decrease in the so-called effective mobility.

6. Electrolytes are sodium, potassium and calcium ions, the effects of their shortage and excess

Each of the cations listed here is of particular importance because it initiates a cellular reaction, is involved in the stimulation of neurons and in the processes of converting chemical signals into electrical and vice versa. The basic role in maintaining the water-electrolyte, osmotic and acid-base balance is played by sodium ions. Changes in sodium, potassium and calcium concentrations are associated with various abnormalities, which have been described in the table below.

7. Electrolytes how to prevent electrolyte disorders

If you are a physically active person, you should also pay special attention to supplementing your fluids on hot days, because that is when you lose precious electrolytes. The topic of water-electricity and acid-base economics is extremely complex and difficult. Water is a basic factor without which there would be no life. You should always see a doctor immediately. If you're a physical person you should remember to supplement the fluids lost during exercise.
Source

Normy żywienia dla populacji polskiej – nowelizacja, pod red. Jarosza M., Warszawa 2017.
Jośko-Ochojska J. et al., Odwodnienie osób w podeszłym wieku jako problem zdrowia publicznego, „Hygeia Public Health” 2014, 49(4), 712–717.
Kokot F., Franek E., Zaburzenia gospodarki wodno-elektrolitowej i kwasowo-zasadowej, Warszawa 2013.
Żak I., Chemia medyczna, Katowice 2001.