Electrolytes

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Joseph Ayotunde Aderonmu and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

Electrolytes are essential for basic life functioning, such as:

• Maintaining electrical neutrality in cells
• Generating and conducting action potentials in the nerves and muscles.
• Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the significant electrolytes along with magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates.

Electrolytes come from our food and fluids.

• These electrolytes can have an imbalance, leading to either high or low levels. High or low levels of electrolytes disrupt normal bodily functions and can lead to even life-threatening complications.

The term electrolyte means that this ion is electrically-charged and moves to either a negative (cathode) or positive (anode) electrode:

• ions that move to the cathode (cations) are positively charged
• ions that move to the anode (anions) are negatively charged

Function

Electrolytes are important because they are what your cells (especially nerve, heart, muscle) use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (nerve impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and to other cells. Your kidneys work to keep the electrolyte concentrations in your blood constant despite changes in your body.

Eg. When you exercise heavily, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant.

Indication for Analysis

Indications to order serum electrolyte panel are numerous. Some of which include:

• As a part of routine blood investigations
• For in-patients and ICU patients, the monitoring of serum electrolytes often occurs daily or more frequently as they can be affected by the medications, fluid therapy, diet changes, and illnesses.
• Any illness that can cause electrolyte derangement eg.malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac disorders, kidney dysfunction, endocrine disorders, circulatory disorders, lung disorders, acid-base imbalance
• Arrhythmias, cardiac arrest
• Use of diuretics or any medications that can interfere with fluid and electrolyte homeostasis

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