You can recognize an electrolyte disorder by these symptoms | Electrolyte disorders

You can recognize an electrolyte disorder by these symptoms

Electrolyte disorders affect the entire body. Particularly affected are the musculature as well as the vegetative, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Typical symptoms are:

  • Lethargy, confusion, behavioral changes, headaches, unconsciousness
  • Nausea, constipation, intestinal obstruction
  • High blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia
  • Chest pain, cramps, muscle weakness, paralysis

How does the doctor make the diagnosis?

The symptoms just mentioned can be the first indication of an electrolyte disorder. These will be asked for by the doctor on the basis of the patient’s medical history. However, not all symptoms always occur in parallel and many of them, such as nausea, are relatively unspecific and can have many causes.

Therefore, the examination of the blood is important and groundbreaking for the diagnosis. In the laboratory, the electrolyte concentrations are determined using a serum sample. Next, it is important to find the cause of the electrolyte disorder, as long as this was not yet possible due to the medical history. Further specific tests may follow.

Therapy of the electrolyte disorder

First and foremost, the electrolytes have to be balanced. In the event of a deficiency, they must be substituted orally or intravenously. The therapy depends on the severity of the electrolyte disorder and the general condition of the patient.

For example, a “healthy” patient who suffers from electrolyte deficiency due to frequent sport can easily compensate for it with water, fruit or even food supplements. On the other hand, a patient who suffers from kidney disease or is taking medication should never use these dietary supplements independently and without consulting a doctor. He could thereby aggravate or even trigger an electrolyte disorder. In the next step, the therapy then follows the cause. No general procedure can be described here, as this varies greatly depending on the clinical picture.

Duration/Prediction

Balancing the electrolyte disturbance is usually a rather fast process, since the ions can be absorbed directly in dissolved form. However, the severity of the deficiency and the underlying cause is of course also important. For example, the therapy of chronic kidney disease is more difficult than that of a gastrointestinal infection.

In the former case, a permanent solution must be found for the electrolyte disorder, which often ends up in dialysis. In the case of a simple gastrointestinal infection, however, oral intake at home or, in more severe cases, infusions from a doctor are often sufficient. A tip at this point is the tried and tested “household remedy” cola and pretzel sticks.

The latter provide the body with sodium and chloride in the form of salt. Cola should only be taken in small amounts, as sodium can only be absorbed in the intestines in combination with sugar.