An electrolyte imbalance occurs when the concentration
of a specific electrolyte is either too high or too
low. The concentration of electrolytes is strongly
affected by the amount of fluid in the body. Fluid
balance is largely controlled by hormones that act on
the kidneys and regulate how much urine the kidneys
produce.
The average male adult loses about 1.5-2.5 L
of water daily through urine production, sweating,
breathing out water vapor, and bowel movements
depending on exercise levels and environmental temperature.
The United States Institute of Medicine recommends
that adult men drink a minimumof 3 L of liquids
a day, and that women drink a minimum of 2.2 L to
replace lost water.
Dehydration is a major cause of electrolyte imbalance.
It occurs whenever water is lost from the body
and not replaced fairly quickly. When fluids are lost,
electrolytes in those fluids are lost too, increasing the
risk of electrolyte imbalance. Dehydration can be
caused in many ways. These include:
-Heavy exercise, especially in hot weather. Sodium
and water are both lost through the skin with heavy
sweating.
-Limited fluid intake. This is a particular problem
with the elderly, especially those who are unable to
walk or are bedridden.
-Severe vomiting and diarrhea. Large amounts of
water and many electrolytes that would normally
be absorbed in the intestines are lost with diarrhea and vomiting. Small children with diarrhea can
become seriously dehydrated in less than one day.
Infants can become dehydrated within hours.
-High fever. Increased water loss through the skin due to
fever is especially serious in infants and young children.
-Severe burns. More water is lost from the surface of
the body when the skin is not there to prevent evaporation,
and damaged cells release their electrolytes
into interstitial fluid, upsetting the electrolyte
balance.
Electrolyte imbalances can have other causes
unrelated to dehydration. These include:
-Kidney damage or kidney failure. This is a common
cause of electrolyte imbalances in the elderly and can
be fatal.
-Anorexia nervosa (self starvation) or bulimia nervosa
(binge and purge eating).
-Excessive intake of water. Called water intoxication,
this can result in swelling in the brain. In 2007, a
Sacramento, California, woman died when she participated
in a radio station contest that involved
drinking large amounts of water in a short period
of time.
-Some drugs, herbal supplements, and chemotherapy.
Some medications/treatments selectively increase the
excretion of certain electrolytes, cause the body to
retain excess water, or stimulate the kidneys to produce
excess urine.
-Hormonal imbalances in the production of hormones
that regulate the kidneys. This causes too little
or too much urine to be produced.
-Cancer. Some tumors produce chemicals that upset
electrolyte balance.
-Abuse of electrolyte supplements.
