Guest guest Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 article geared toward cancer patient but pertains to anyone--fyi http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/supportive_treatment.aspx? id=23137 Electrolyte Imbalance Overview Electrolytes are chemicals in the body that regulate important physiological functions. Examples of electrolytes are sodium, chloride, magnesium, potassium and calcium. Electrolyte imbalance causes a variety of symptoms that can be severe. Electrolyte imbalance is commonly caused by loss of body fluids through prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or high fever. The most serious forms of electrolyte imbalance in cancer patients include high blood calcium levels, called hypercalcemia, or a disorder called tumor lysis syndrome that results in electrolyte imbalance from the killing of cancer cells. Both of these can be life- threatening if not managed appropriately. What are electrolytes? What causes electrolyte imbalance? What are the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance? Which electrolyte disorders are most serious for cancer patients? What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are chemicals in the body that regulate important physiological functions and include sodium, chloride, magnesium, potassium and calcium. When dissolved in water, electrolytes separate into positively and negatively charged ions. Nerve and muscle function are dependent upon the proper exchange of these ions in and out of the cells. Electrolytes must exist in the body within a narrow concentration range in order to effectively serve a variety of critical functions (see table 1). The normal range is measured per liter of blood. Electrolyte imbalance refers to a value higher or lower than the normal range and can cause a variety of symptoms. Table 1 Functions of electrolytes and their normal ranges Electrolyte Functions in the body Normal adult range* Calcium Necessary for muscle contraction, nerve function, blood clotting, cell division, healthy bones and teeth 4.5-5.5 mEq/L Chloride Maintains fluid balance in the body 97-107 mEq/L Potassium Regulates heart contraction, helps maintain fluid balance 3.5-5.3 mEq/L Magnesium Necessary for muscle contraction, nerve function, heart rhythm, bone strength, generating energy and building protein 1.5-2.5 mEq/L Sodium Maintains fluid balance and necessary for muscle contraction and nerve function 136-145 mEq/L *Values may vary from laboratory to laboratory. What causes electrolyte imbalance? Electrolyte imbalance is commonly caused by loss of body fluids through prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, or high fever. All of these may be side effects of chemotherapy treatment. The kidneys play a critical role in regulating electrolytes. They control the levels of chloride in your blood and " flush out " potassium, magnesium and sodium. Therefore, a disturbance in blood levels of these electrolytes may be related to kidney function. What are the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance? An electrolyte imbalance may lead to a number of symptoms that depend on which electrolyte is out of balance and whether the level is too high or too low. If you have altered potassium, magnesium, sodium or calcium levels, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: Muscle spasm Bone disorders Weakness Blood pressure changes Twitching Irregular heartbeat Numbness Nervous system disorders Confusion Convulsions Lethargy Seizures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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