Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electrical charge and keep your body running — they control nerve signals, muscle contractions (including your heartbeat), hydration, and pH balance. Even small imbalances can have big effects.
The Key Electrolytes
- Sodium — governs fluid balance. Too low (hyponatremia) or too high (hypernatremia) can cause confusion, weakness, and in severe cases seizures.
- Potassium — critical for heart rhythm. Both very low and very high potassium are medical emergencies because they can trigger dangerous arrhythmias.
- Chloride — moves with sodium and helps maintain acid-base balance.
- Bicarbonate — buffers acidity in the blood.
- Calcium & Magnesium — essential for nerves, muscles, and bone.
What Causes Imbalances
Common triggers include dehydration, vomiting or diarrhea, kidney disease, certain medications (especially diuretics), hormonal disorders, and heart failure. In hot climates, heavy sweating without adequate replacement is a frequent cause.
Why Accuracy Is Critical
Electrolyte values must be read precisely — a misplaced decimal point on a potassium result, for example, changes a safe value into an alarming one. Always confirm that the numbers on your report make physiological sense, and flag anything that looks impossible.
When to Seek Care
Symptoms like marked weakness, palpitations, muscle cramps, confusion, or fainting alongside abnormal electrolytes need prompt attention. Critical potassium or sodium values are treated urgently.
Check Your Electrolyte Panel
Upload your report to Lab Lens for a clear, accurate explanation of your sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes.