Electrolytes are body nutrients that can take up a charge, either positive or negative. These have biochemical functions including: heartbeat regulation, balancing body fluid, regulation of muscles, blood clotting, maintaining stable blood pressure levels, cell division, suppressing anxiety, and nerve control. Calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphate are the most common electrolytes in the body. These minerals are obtained from consuming a variety of foods and drinks putting your diet at the center of electrolyte imbalance. The chemicals are lost through bathing, physical exercise, sweat, and urine. Electrolytes possess an electrical charge hence the name. An upset in the set ranges for electrolytes causes uncomfortable and sometimes fatal conditions like anxiety and dehydration.
It is important to note that electrolyte imbalance can be diagnosed across different patient categories. A middle aged athlete and an old diabetic both stand equal chances of suffering from the imbalance, thirsty adults and children suffering from diarrhea alike( Giordano et al. 2016) . The chemical imbalance manifests in several symptoms. These include confusion, constipation, dizziness, dark urine, fatigue, fever, high pulse rate, sunken eyes, or even mental uncertainties like hallucinations.
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Calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium are directly involved in heart pumping. Anxiety and stress have a potential of upsetting the electrolyte balance in the body. This is because the chemicals, hormones, the body releases in these conditions go right into the bloodstream causing electrolyte imbalance ( Giordano et al. 2016) . The American Heart Association states that potassium imbalance is the most common electrolyte imbalance. The imbalance is reflected in cardiac muscles when they fail to contract and expand as required ( Addo, 2016) . Typically very high or very low levels of electrolytes cause hypertension and in extreme cases death.
Electrolyte imbalances can stale muscle contraction and relaxation making voluminous blood to accrue in blood vessels resulting in blood clots. Clots that move to the brain result in stroke while those that move to the lungs cause pulmonary embolism ( Giordano et al. 2016) . Untimely diagnosis of electrolyte imbalance puts patients at risk of: convulsions, overheating, and shock, swelling of the brain, unconsciousness, and coma.
Diagnosing Electrolyte Imbalance
Nurses conduct a simple blood profile to detect electrolyte imbalance ( Addo, 2016) .
Normal levels for common electrolytes
Calcium: 2.20-2.55 mmol/L
Chloride: 97–107 mEq/L
Sodium: 134-145 mEq/L
Potassium: 3.5-5.0 mmol/L
Magnesium: 0.70-0.95 mmol/L
Phosphorus: 0.8-1.3 mmol/L
CMP interpretation
Hyper-glacemia- high serum glucose
Hypocreatinuria- low serum creatinine levels
Hypocalcemia- low calcium levels
Hypoprotenuria- low protein levels
Correcting Electrolyte Imbalance
Fixing High and low electrolyte levels is an almost immediate step. Some of the means of correcting electrolyte levels are discussed below. Optimum water consumption- Significantly low body fluid levels can offset the electrolyte balance. Dehydration is a major cause of high electrolyte levels ( Addo, 2016) . Drinking sufficient water is critical in maintain the chemical balance. Counterchecking medications- certain medications are responsible for electrolyte imbalance. Such medications include chemotherapy, diuretics, and some laxatives, among others ( Giordano et al. 2016) . The nurse should adjust the medications urgently. Stress reduction- Stress highly imparts electrolyte levels. Engaging in physical exercise, yoga, cooking, and nature activities help reduce stress thus balancing electrolytes. Electrolyte solutions- in extreme cases, electrolyte solutions may be administered to regulate electrolyte levels.
An electrolyte panel is necessary to determine the levels of electrolytes in the body. Body fluids such as blood and urine are used for diagnosis ( Addo, 2016) . The tests are carried out and recorded at intervals. Electrolyte imbalance can be uncomfortable and in some cases fatal. Electrolyte imbalances can be used to diagnose and monitor medical conditions in organs such as kidneys, lungs, and the heart. The anion gap, calculated from cation and anion electrolyte differences, is used some metabolic and respiratory disorders.
References
Addo, J. K. (2016). Electrolyte Imbalance: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Phosphorous. In Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine (pp. 637-650). Springer, New Delhi.
Giordano, M., Ciarambino, T., Castellino, P., Malatino, L., Di Somma, S., Biolo, G., & Adinolfi, L. E. (2016). Diseases associated with electrolyte imbalance in the ED: age-related differences. The American journal of emergency medicine , 34 (10), 1923-1926.
