Understanding electrolyte disorders

Electrolytes是体内自然发生的元素和化合物。他们控制重要的生理功能。

Examples of electrolytes include:

这se substances are present in your blood, bodily fluids, and urine. They’re also ingested with food, drinks, and supplements.

当体内的电解质水平太高或太低时，会发生电解质障碍。需要保持电解质平衡，以使您的身体正常运行。否则，重要的身体系统会受到影响。

Severe electrolyte imbalances can cause serious problems such as coma,seizures，，，，andcardiac arrest。

轻度的电解质疾病可能不会引起任何症状。这样的疾病可能会尚未发现，直到在常规血液检查。一旦特定疾病变得更加严重，症状通常开始出现。

Not all electrolyte imbalances cause the same symptoms, but many share similar symptoms.

Common symptoms of an electrolyte disorder include:

Call your doctor right away if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect you might have an electrolyte disorder. Electrolyte disturbances can become life-threatening if left untreated.

Electrolyte disorders are most often caused by a loss of bodily fluids through prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating. They may also develop due to fluid loss related toburns。

Certain medications can cause electrolyte disorders as well. In some cases, underlying diseases, such as acute or慢性肾病，，，，are to blame.

确切的cause may vary depending on the specific type of electrolyte disorder.

Elevated levels of an electrolyte are indicated with the prefix “hyper-.” Depleted levels of an electrolyte are indicated with “hypo-.”

电解质水平失衡引起的条件包括：

Calcium

Calcium您的身体是稳定血压和控制骨骼肌收缩的重要矿物。它也用来建立强大bonesandteeth。

Hypercalcemiaoccurs when you have too much calcium in the blood. This is usually caused by:

Hypocalcemiaoccurs due to a lack of adequate calcium in the bloodstream. Causes can include:

Chloride

Chloride is necessary for maintaining the proper balance of bodily fluids.

Hyperchloremiaoccurs when there’s too much chloride in the body. It can happen as a result of:

低氯血症develops when there’s too little chloride in the body. It’s often caused by sodium or potassium problems.

Other causes can include:

Magnesium

Magnesiumis a critical mineral that regulates many important functions, such as:

  • 肌肉收缩
  • 心节奏
  • nerve function

Hypermagnesemia means excess amounts of magnesium. This disorder primarily affects people with艾迪生氏病and末期肾脏疾病。

低磁性血症means having too little magnesium in the body. Common causes include:

磷酸盐

这kidneys，，，，bones, and intestines work to balance phosphate levels in the body. Phosphate is necessary for a wide variety of functions and interacts closely with calcium.

Hyperphosphatemia可能由于：

  • 低钙水平
  • 慢性肾病
  • 严重的breathing difficulties
  • underactive parathyroid glands
  • 严重的肌肉损伤
  • 肿瘤裂解综合征，，，，a complication of cancer treatment
  • 过度使用含磷酸盐laxatives

Low levels of phosphate, or低磷酸血症，，，，can be seen in:

Potassium

对调节钾尤为重要heartfunction. It also helps maintain healthy nerves and muscles.

Hyperkalemia可能由于高钾而发展。如果未诊断和未治疗，这种情况可能是致命的。它通常由以下方式触发：

Hypokalemia当钾水平太低时发生。这通常是由于：

  • 饮食失调
  • 严重的呕吐或腹泻
  • 脱水
  • 某些药物，包括泻药，利尿剂和corticosteroids

Sodium

钠对于人体保持液体平衡是必要的，对于正常的身体功能至关重要。它还有助于调节神经功能和肌肉收缩。

Hypernatremiaoccurs when there’s too much sodium in the blood. Abnormally high levels of sodium may be caused by:

  • inadequate water consumption
  • 严重的脱水
  • excessive loss of bodily fluids as a result of prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, or respiratory illness
  • 某些药物，包括corticosteroids

Hyponatremiadevelops when there’s too little sodium. Common causes of low sodium levels include:

A simple blood test can measure the levels of electrolytes in your body. A blood test that looks at yourkidney functionis important as well.

Your doctor may want to perform aphysical examor order extra tests to confirm a suspected electrolyte disorder. These additional tests will vary depending on the condition in question.

For example, hypernatremia (too much sodium) can cause loss of elasticity in the skin due to significant dehydration. Your doctor can performa pinch test确定脱水是否影响您。

这y may also test your reflexes, as both increased and depleted levels of some electrolytes can affect reflexes.

一个electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)，对您的心脏进行电气追踪，也可能有助于检查电解质问题带来的任何不规则的心跳，节奏或ECG或EKG变化。

Treatment varies depending on the type of electrolyte disorder and on the underlying condition that’s causing it.

In general, certain treatments are used to restore the proper balance of minerals in the body. These include:

Intravenous (IV) fluids

Intravenous (IV) fluids，，，，typically sodium chloride, can help rehydrate the body. This treatment is commonly used in cases of dehydration resulting from vomiting or diarrhea. Electrolyte supplements can be added to IV fluids to correct deficiencies.

Certain IV medications

IV medicationscan help your body restore electrolyte balance quickly. They can also protect you from negative effects while you’re being treated by another method.

这medication you receive will depend on the electrolyte disorder you have. Medications that may be administered include calcium gluconate, magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride.

Oral medications and supplements

Oral medications and supplements are often used to correct chronic mineral abnormalities in your body. This is more common in if you’ve been diagnosed with ongoing kidney disease.

Depending on your electrolyte disorder, you may receive medications or supplements such as:

  • calcium (gluconate, carbonate, citrate, or lactate
  • 氧化镁
  • potassium chloride
  • phosphate binders, which include sevelamer hydrochloride (Renagel), lanthanum (Fosrenol), and calcium-based treatments such as calcium carbonate

他们可以根据您的疾病的根本原因来帮助短期或长期替代耗尽的电解质。一旦纠正了不平衡，您的医生将治疗根本原因。

Although some of the supplements can be purchased over the counter, most people with electrolyte disorders get a prescription for supplements from their doctor.

血液透析

血液透析is a type of dialysis that uses a machine to remove waste from your blood.

One way to get the blood to flow to this artificial kidney is for your doctor to surgically create a vascular access, or an entrance point, into your blood vessels.

在血液透析治疗期间，此入口处将使更多的血液流过您的身体。这意味着可以过滤和纯化更多的血液。

当电解质障碍是由突然肾脏损伤引起的，其他治疗无法正常工作时，可以使用血液透析。如果电解质问题已经危及生命，您的医生还可能决定血液透析治疗。

任何人都可以发展出电解质障碍。由于病史，某些人的风险增加。增加电解质疾病风险的状况包括：

Follow this advice to helppreventelectrolyte disorders:

  • stay hydrated if you’re experiencing prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating
  • visit your doctor if you’re experiencing common symptoms of an electrolyte disorder

如果电解质疾病是由药物或潜在疾病引起的，您的医生将调整您的药物并治疗原因。这将有助于防止将来的电解质失衡。