Electrolytes for diarrhea, hangover & Co.?

The term electrolytes includes various salts that our body needs to live. They are also known as blood salts. If there is an imbalance in blood salts – also known as electrolyte imbalance – this can be the result of a disease and in some cases should be treated. In the following article you will learn more about the most important electrolytes, the symptoms of an electrolyte deficiency and interesting facts about electrolytes as laboratory values. You can also read here whether it makes sense to buy electrolytes and how to best take in electrolytes if you have  diarrhea  or a hangover.

Definition: what are electrolytes?

Electrolytes, or blood salts, are small amounts of chemical elements that are essential to the human body. The best-known electrolyte is table salt, which consists of the elements  sodium  and chloride, but  potassium , calcium, magnesium, phosphate and  iron  are also important electrolytes. From a chemical point of view, electrolytes are ions, i.e. small charged particles that are present in an aqueous solution.

Their tasks include regulating the water balance and acidity in our body, and the substances are also required for nerve and muscle function. Since our organism cannot produce electrolytes itself, it has to consume them through drinks and food, for example, but  minerals can also be supplied in the form of powder or electrolyte solutions  .

The hormones regulate the so-called electrolyte balance, i.e. how the minerals are distributed inside and outside the cells. Excess electrolytes are excreted via the kidneys with the urine, stool or  sweating  . Since the electrolytes influence each other in terms of their function and concentration, a disruption in the electrolyte balance often throws several values ​​out of balance.

The main electrolytes

The most important electrolytes include the minerals sodium, potassium and calcium. In the following we will present these electrolytes, their task and the symptoms of a deficiency in more detail.

Sodium

Sodium is a component of table salt and, like all other electrolytes, a chemical element. It essentially fulfills two tasks: On the one hand, sodium regulates the water balance between the cells and the blood. On the other hand, it is involved in so-called action potentials. These are small electrical charges in the body that are required for many processes in and on the cells, such as the communication of nerve cells. The normal value for the sodium concentration in the blood is between 135 and 145 mmol/l (millimoles per liter).

There are many causes of  sodium deficiency  (hyponatraemia), but a real deficiency is rarely the cause. Rather, it is usually the case that there is too much water in the body and sodium is, so to speak, “diluted” (also known as “water intoxication” in the vernacular). A real sodium deficiency is present, for example, if diuretics (“water tablets”) have been taken that promote the excretion of sodium (saluresis) or after vomiting or diarrhea. Rarer disorders such as SIADH (inappropriate ADH secretion syndrome) can also trigger hyponatremia.

The most common cause of  excess sodium  (hypernatremia) is exsiccosis, also known as  dehydration  (loss of fluids). The body loses too much water through  fever , sweating or  burns  or not enough is drunk on hot days and the concentration of sodium in the blood increases. Excessive intake of  salt  has a similar effect.

Both hypernatremia and hyponatremia manifest themselves in numerous neurological symptoms such as:

• confusion
• dizziness
• excessive muscle reflexes
• seizures
• nausea  and vomiting
• in the worst case coma

Sodium levels below 120 mmol/l or above 160 mmol/l must always be treated in the intensive care unit. There, either sodium is added very slowly or diluted with water until the laboratory value is back in the normal range. The cause of the derailment is then dealt with. Under no circumstances should you try to regulate the sodium yourself with home remedies, since there is a risk of serious brain damage if the sodium level drops or rises too quickly.

Potassium

Potassium is an electrolyte that is also involved in water regulation and action potential formation. For example, it plays a role in muscle contraction. It also regulates the acid-base balance. The normal value for the potassium content in the blood is between 3.5 mmol/l and 5.2 mmol/l. Potassium is traditionally found in foods such as  bananas , oranges, apricots,  figs  and meat.

A  lack of potassium  is called hypokalemia and can be caused by:

• vomiting or diarrhea
• taking laxatives
• heavy sweating
• alkalosis (a blood pH that is too high)
• malnutrition or malnutrition

But taking medications such as cortisol, diuretics, some  antibiotics  or antifungals, and insulin can also trigger low potassium levels.

Too much potassium  (hyperkalemia), on the other hand, can be the result of kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, the use of various medications, hyperglycemic coma (shock from excessively high blood sugar), or the breakdown of too many cells during chemotherapy (tumor lysis syndrome).

Therapy for hypokalemia is cautious administration of potassium; for hyperkalemia, therapy depends on the severity of the disorder. In mild cases, one ensures that there is sufficient water in the body – in moderately severe and severe cases, the therapy ranges from the administration of so-called salt exchange resins to hemodialysis.

Both with  potassium deficiency  and potassium excess, muscle paralysis and  cardiac arrhythmias  up to cardiac arrest can occur. Therefore, self-medication and home remedies are strongly discouraged even in the case of symptomatic potassium imbalances.

Calcium

Calcium is the most common mineral in the human body, but 99 percent of it is bound in the bones. But it is also required for the transmission of signals, for example for muscle contraction. The normal value for the calcium level in the blood is between 2.20 mmol/l and 2.65 mmol/l. Calcium is mainly found in dairy products and green vegetables.

The  lack of calcium  is called hypocalcemia and can be caused by hormonal disorders, medication, kidney damage,  hyperventilation  or advanced pancreatitis.

Hypercalcemia, or  excess calcium  , is most often caused by primary hyperparathyroidism, a hormonal disorder. In addition, cancer or medication can be responsible for the excess.

A lack or excess of calcium can cause numerous symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting,  epileptic seizures , cardiac arrhythmias, increased muscle reflexes and psychological abnormalities.

In the case of a calcium deficiency, calcium is given, in the case of a calcium excess, the calcium is reduced with different medications and measures depending on the severity. In extreme cases, the calcium is flushed out of the body using dialysis.

Buying electrolytes – does that make sense?

There are numerous products with electrolyte mixtures for children and adults that can be bought in pharmacies and drugstores. For example, they are offered in the form of tablets or powder (for the production of drinks containing electrolytes). Even with special effervescent tablets, you can easily make such an electrolyte solution yourself for drinking. These products are intended to help compensate for the loss of electrolytes after diarrhea and vomiting, too much alcohol or after exercise.

As a rule, however, we take in enough electrolytes with our food. An actual deficiency is therefore rare – too much of what is supposedly good, however, can upset the sensitive electrolyte balance and lead to electrolyte disorders. Below you will find out when it really makes sense to take additional electrolytes and what alternatives there are to products from the pharmacy.

When should you take electrolytes?

The human body is usually relatively good at regulating the balance of various electrolytes itself. Different, highly complex mechanisms help to keep the blood salts within a very narrow range and in balance. Therefore, a healthy, symptom-free person is very unlikely to have an electrolyte deficiency that requires treatment. On the contrary, it is not advisable to try to compensate for a supposed electrolyte deficiency yourself with tablets, as this can have serious health consequences. If there are no (hormonal) previous illnesses, a healthy and balanced diet should be sufficient to have stable electrolyte levels in the normal range.

On the other hand, if you have vomited or had diarrhea, it may be advisable to “replenish” the electrolytes lost in this way. In such cases, it is recommended to consume a lightly salted chicken broth or an electrolyte mix from the pharmacy, as this supplies electrolytes as well as hydration. Children in particular can benefit greatly from this simple remedy.

Does electrolyte intake help with a hangover?

A hangover from too much alcohol is mainly caused by dehydration, i.e. a lack of water in the body. If the headache is all that is present, a liberal intake of  tea  or water and rest should be sufficient to allow the body to regenerate. If vomiting has also occurred, a lightly salted soup or chicken broth is a suitable remedy. While this won’t make the hangover go away, it will alleviate the symptoms.

Do electrolytes help with gastrointestinal complaints?

To a limited extent, electrolytes can   help prevent constipation . If this has already existed for a few days, potassium-rich foods such as dried fruit can help.

Are electrolytes useful after exercise?

With light and moderate exercise, it is not necessary to consume electrolytes. However, if you sweat a lot, it is advisable to use home remedies or non-prescription electrolytes from the drugstore or pharmacy to compensate for the loss of salt through sweating.

How do you know when you’re low on electrolytes?

Basically, a healthy diet and an adequate water intake are beneficial for a balanced electrolyte level. However, if you have been noticing symptoms such as gastrointestinal complaints, neurological or psychological abnormalities, unreasonable thirst or subjective heart problems for a long time or have experienced very severe symptoms, you should urgently seek medical advice.

If an electrolyte deficiency is suspected, the urine or  blood values ​​are examined  in the laboratory. The doctor will not only recognize the electrolyte imbalance in the laboratory values, but will also be able to find and remedy the cause. For example, if necessary, the missing electrolytes can be supplied with the help of tablets or even infusions.