Electrolyte Imbalance: 5 Signs And Solutions
From the name itself, electrolytes are the minerals inside your body that have an electric charge. They help balance your body’s pH level and the amount of water inside your body, along with the operation of your brain, muscles, nerves, and tissue creation. In most cases, you’ll find them in potassium, chloride, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and bicarbonate.
However, if your body experiences electrolyte imbalance, it might force it to act up. While you can try to keep yourself healthy by consuming the right nutrients and knowing what are the benefits of alkaline water as they’re popular to keep your body healthy, there might be more things you should do to avoid such unfortunate circumstances. With that, you need to learn the signs and solutions you can do if your body is experiencing electrolyte imbalance.
Signs For Electrolyte Imbalance
When your body reaches electrolyte imbalance, it might result in various health conditions, ranging from mild to severe, in mere seconds. To prevent any complications, you should watch out for the signs of electrolyte imbalance and take necessary actions immediately to keep your electrolyte levels even. To help you out, listed below are some of the common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance you should look out for:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Signs Commonly Found In Children
Unfortunately, electrolyte imbalance can happen to children as well. As they have a higher risk of dehydration, since they’re smaller than adults, you need to address any possible electrolyte imbalance issue immediately. With that, below are some signs you can commonly find in children:
- Dizziness
- Difficulty with breathing
- Dark urine
- Weakness
- Cramping
Signs Commonly Found In Older Adults
Moreover, older adults can also carry different symptoms as they’re more prone to health issues like kidney problems and dehydration. Listed below are some signs of electrolyte imbalance found in older adults:
- Sunken eyes
- Dry mouth
- Low blood pressure
- Dry skin
- Dizziness
Solutions For Electrolyte Imbalance
As you notice some of the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance to you or someone you know, you must address the issue immediately. This way, you can prevent the situation from worsening, allow yourself to be completely healthy, and let your body function as it should. With that, listed below are some things you can do once you suspect having an electrolyte imbalance:
Over-The-Counter Electrolyte Solution
One of the quickest and most reliable ways to refill your electrolyte levels is by purchasing over-the-counter electrolyte solutions. This way, you can easily mix them up inside your home and allow yourself to regain your old body and let it function how it’s supposed to. However, you should be careful before doing this, as too many electrolytes can cause your body to malfunction.
Ideally, you should only consume electrolyte solutions when you’re feeling nauseous, with a mix of vomiting and diarrhea, or you’ve been sweating heavily, even when the environment is cool. Drinking an electrolyte solution can help balance your body’s electrolytes and allow you to feel better.
Consume Sport Drinks
Athletes need a high level of electrolytes in their body to function well and keep up with the hydration that their body needs. While drinking water can help to keep their bodies hydrated, they’ll need a stronger substance to help them refuel their lost electrolytes and allow their bodies to be full of energy. With that, consuming sports drinks would always be a reliable solution.
A sports drink for athletes contains plenty of electrolytes that help keep an athlete’s body well hydrated and energized. If you suspect your body is getting close to dehydration and feeling a tad weaker, you should consider drinking one to keep your electrolytes balanced. Don’t worry, as they’re safe for you to consume, even if you’re not engaged in any physical activity.
Gobble Up Water
Alternative to drinking a sports drink, consuming regular water or coconut water can keep your electrolyte balance in check. This will be a great solution if you’re looking for an alternative that’s easily accessible and tastes how you normally consume beverages. Moreover, they’re also great solutions for mild electrolyte imbalance, so you can prevent yourself from adding too much to your body, which can also lead to more problems.
Luckily, you can just gobble up a good amount of water or coconut juice and allow yourself to be rehydrated for the day. Coconut water would be a great choice if you’d like to have an added flavor as they have low-sugar levels, which won’t cause any additional issues to your health. Furthermore, it’ll be helpful if you could look for unsweetened coconut water to minimize your calorie intake and just consume all the goodness it can offer.
Eat Electrolyte-Rich Meals
Of course, apart from what you can drink, some foods can help you maintain balance with your body’s electrolytes. This way, you can allow your electrolyte replenishment process to be delicious and fun. Moreover, this would work great if you have electrolyte imbalance and not experiencing dehydration as your water levels are within the right amount, but your body just has a few levels of it.
To help replenish your body’s electrolytes using meals, you might want to consume plenty of potatoes, broccoli, avocado, kale, tofu, spinach, almonds, banana, tomatoes, and more. With the number of food choices, you can always whip up some delicious and healthy meals, which can help bring your electrolytes back to the right level. You can even pair it with some water, coconut water, or a sports drink and allow your body to gather as many electrolytes as possible.
Consult With Your Doctor
Of course, one of the best and guaranteed ways you can treat electrolyte imbalance is by consulting with your doctor about what are the necessary steps you can take. While you can always try to drink or eat electrolyte-rich foods and beverages, they might not be the best solution, especially if you have certain medical conditions. Depending on your case, if you already have an existing medical condition or you’ve developed one due to electrolyte imbalance, consulting with a doctor can provide you with a healthier solution.
As you consult with a doctor, they’ll provide appropriate treatments that can help address your issues while eliminating any existing health conditions you may have. While this process might take longer, it’ll guarantee to improve your overall health, making it the best and healthiest option for you.
Takeaway
As you learn what electrolyte imbalance is and how it can affect your body, knowing the signs of having one can help you to address your issues immediately. Moreover, you should also learn that children and older adults can emit different symptoms, which you need to look out for. As you check the signs for electrolyte imbalance, you should begin practicing the solutions, such as offering plenty of liquids along with electrolyte-rich food. With early prevention, you can allow yourself to be healthy and prevent the situation from getting worse.
