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Electrolyte imbalance, or water-electrolyte imbalance, is an abnormality in the concentration of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. They help to regulate heart and neurological function, fluid balance , oxygen delivery , acid–base balance and much more.
Fluid balance is an aspect of the homeostasis of organisms in which the amount of water in the organism needs to be controlled, via osmoregulation and behavior, such that the concentrations of electrolytes (salts in solution) in the various body fluids are kept within healthy ranges.
Most electrolyte imbalances are adequately treated by ORS. For example, a child who has been given an excess of sugar or salt like that which is in commercial soft drinks, sugared fruit drinks, or over-concentrated infant formula, may develop hypernatraemic dehydration.
Hyponatremia is the most common type of electrolyte imbalance, and is often found in older adults. [11] [12] It occurs in about 20% of those admitted to hospital and 10% of people during or after an endurance sporting event. [3] [5] Among those in hospital, hyponatremia is associated with an increased risk of death. [5]
Diagnosis of mild DDS is often complicated by other dialysis complications such as malignant hypertension, uremia, encephalopathy, subdural hemorrhage, hyper- and hypoglycaemia, or electrolyte imbalances.
Although a dialysate fluid, which is a solution containing diluted electrolytes, is employed for the filtration of blood, haemodialysis can cause an electrolyte imbalance. These imbalances can derive from abnormal concentrations of potassium (hypokalemia, hyperkalemia), and sodium (hyponatremia, hypernatremia). These electrolyte imbalances are ...
The electrolytes measured most often are sodium and potassium. Chloride levels are rarely measured except for arterial blood gas interpretations since they are inherently linked to sodium levels. One important test conducted on urine is the specific gravity test to determine the occurrence of an electrolyte imbalance. [citation needed]
Osmoregulation is the active regulation of the osmotic pressure of an organism's body fluids, detected by osmoreceptors, to maintain the homeostasis of the organism's water content; that is, it maintains the fluid balance and the concentration of electrolytes (salts in solution which in this case is represented by body fluid) to keep the body fluids from becoming too diluted or concentrated.