How Electrolytes Work Inside Your Body And Why It Is Important
We’ve all heard of the term electrolytes. Even more so, we tend to associate the term with drinking water and staying hydrated. But ask any of your friends or relatives if they really understand what electrolytes are and how they work in our bodies. Chances are, you’ll be met with a blank face.
If you’re one of those who don’t understand, don’t worry as you have come to the right place. Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about electrolytes and their role in our bodies.
What are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are tiny minerals in our body fluids that contain an electrical charge. The most common types of electrolytes are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride. When you go to a doctor and they recommend an electrolyte urine test, this simply measures the level of these minerals in your urine.
Each of these electrolytes has a role to play in our bodies. Sodium and potassium, for instance, help strengthen our cell walls, enabling the cells to generate energy. Furthermore, electrolytes allow us to contract our muscles. They also help in the transportation of fluids within our bodies as well as having many other functions.
Note, however, that the electrolytes are not in equal proportion in a person’s body or bloodstream. The body, therefore, needs to regulate the levels of the different types of electrolytes to ensure that they’re in an amount that the body can utilize.
To regulate the levels of electrolytes, the body uses hormones that are produced in the adrenal glands as well as specialized cells in the kidneys. Note also that the kidney, heart, lungs, and brain also produce hormones to regulate the number of electrolytes in the body.
Ultimately, the body always keeps a healthy balance of electrolytes. Another way that it does this is to make you feel thirsty to replenish the number of electrolytes when there are few of them. You can replenish loss electrolytes by taking supplements, such as DripDrop.
Kinds of Electrolytes and Why They’re Important
1. Bicarbonate
Bicarbonate is an important electrolyte with a crucial role – it regulates the acid-base balance in our bodies. Acid is produced as a natural byproduct of our metabolism. For instance, when you’re working out at the gym, the fatigue you feel is a byproduct of energy production to lift weights or engage in strenuous activity. Lactic acid is what makes you feel tired.
Bicarbonate is needed to neutralize the acid by binding the hydrogen molecules to form carbon dioxide and water. If you don’t have sufficient amounts of bicarbonate, this could result in dangerous levels of acidity in your body.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium is an electrolyte that has several functions in the body and a co-factor for many enzyme activities. It’s also needed in muscle contractions as well as helping the smooth muscles that surround the bronchial tubes to relax.
The levels of magnesium are regulated by the kidneys. How much the body absorbs magnesium depends on the levels of magnesium the body. If the levels are high, the absorption levels decrease, and when there are low levels of magnesium in the body the absorption rate increases.
Hypomagnesemia is a condition where a person has very little magnesium levels in their blood. The cause for this is often attributed to diet, excessive alcohol consumption, or a health issue limiting the absorption of magnesium through the large intestines.
On the other hand, a person could also suffer from hypomagnesemia when they have high levels of magnesium in their blood. Often, kidney issues and their inability to regulate the amount of magnesium in the blood will cause this.
3. Calcium
Calcium is used to develop bones and promote bone growth. The calcium will bind itself to the proteins in the bloodstreams. Therefore, high calcium levels are directly proportional to the level of nutrition as well as to the amount of calcium in the diet.
The metabolism of calcium is affected by the amount of magnesium in the person’s body. For the best and most efficient calcium metabolism, the magnesium levels also need to be optimum.
When a person has too much calcium in their bloodstream, which is known as hypercalcemia and is associated with kidney stones, depression, as well as abdominal pain, may occur. It’s the parathyroid hormone that helps regulate the amount of calcium in the body. When the body doesn’t produce enough of it, a person could suffer from excessive calcium.
4. Potassium
There’s a higher concentration of potassium in the cells than outside the cells. This is important as it ensures proper electrical impulses, allowing the muscles and the brains to function properly.
Too much potassium in the bloodstream causes a condition known as hyperkalemia. This often results in unrhythmic heartbeats that could also be life-threatening. On the other hand, too little potassium in the bloodstream could cause its own fair share of issues.
5. Sodium
Unlike potassium, most of the sodium is found in the blood plasma as compared to the inside of the cells. Sodium is important since it regulates muscle function and also ensures that the brain is functioning properly. The kidneys regulate sodium, which excretes it in urine if the levels get too high.
The sodium levels in the bloodstream need to be just right. If not, the body’s cells will begin to malfunction. The person starts to experience confusion, swelling lethargy, and even seizures. In worst cases, the patient may go into a coma.
How to Monitor your electrolytes
One way to screen for any imbalances in the electrolytes is through an electrolyte panel. You can also do a kidney function test or an acid-base balance.
Often, doctors will carry out the electrolyte panel test when patients are admitted due to trauma or chronic disease. If it’s found that a patient has an imbalance of electrolytes, the doctor will treat them and keep testing until the electrolytes are in check.
One of the easiest ways to ensure that we get the right amount of electrolytes is through consuming healthy food that’s high in electrolytes or making electrolyte water.
Final Word
Electrolytes are highly crucial and help our bodies function at their optimum. It’s important, therefore, to ensure that you have the required amounts of electrolytes in your body. You can do this by consuming the right foods or taking a supplement.
If you’re physically active, you can replenish your body of electrolytes by taking a sports drink.
