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Symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance (and how to prevent them)

From the desk of Robb Wolf

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Do you have symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance? To find out, some detective work may be required.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">First of all, different </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/electrolyte-imbalance-or-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">electrolyte disturbances</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> have different symptoms. (If they present with symptoms at all.) A sodium imbalance presents differently from a calcium imbalance, and both are distinct from a magnesium imbalance.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">To complicate matters further, the symptoms often overlap. For instance, low sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium levels can all cause </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/what-causes-muscle-cramps" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">muscle cramps</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. Which disturbance is causing </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400">your </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400">muscle cramps? That’s where your sleuthing comes in.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Do you sweat like a country hog and rehydrate with plain water? It’s probably </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/symptoms-of-low-sodium-and-how-to-treat-hyponatremia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">low sodium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. Are you on proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux? Could be low magnesium. Do you have diarrhea? Diarrhea depletes potassium levels faster than your dog vacuums up fallen food.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">You’ll notice that I’m not discussing dietary electrolytes. Dietary electrolytes </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400">do </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400">matter, but they’re rarely the sole cause of an electrolyte imbalance. This is a crucial point. It’s also a point of mass confusion, and I’ll untangle this confusion later.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Lastly, it’s crucial to remember that dietary electrolytes won’t necessarily </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400">prevent </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400">an electrolyte imbalance. They can </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400">help </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400">prevent these disturbances, but other factors like kidney function, medications, </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/how-to-stay-hydrated" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">hydration habits</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, and various medical conditions are more relevant.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">By the end of this article, you’ll understand the causes, symptoms, and remedies for the major electrolyte imbalances. Let’s dive in, shall we?</span></p><h2><b>What is an Electrolyte Imbalance?</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">An electrolyte imbalance is a disturbance in the concentration of electrolytes in your body. Specifically, an electrolyte imbalance occurs when blood levels of a given electrolyte become too low or too high.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Each electrolyte—sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate—serves important functions in your blood and tissues. These functions include:</span></p><ul><li style="font-weight: 400"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21668/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">Regulating</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> nerve transmission</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/what-electrolytes-do-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">Mediating fluid balance</span></a></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Promoting proper heart function (heartbeat)</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facilitating cellular signaling</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Controlling muscle contraction</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/why-electrolytes-matter-for-immune-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">Influencing immunity</span></a></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/how-electrolytes-and-hormones-work-together" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">Maintaining hormonal health</span></a></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">And much more</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400">When electrolyte levels depart from normal ranges, these functions are </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4129840/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">disrupted</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">. Electrolyte imbalance symptoms often follow.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">These symptoms can range from mild (muscle cramps, low energy, fatigue, irritability) to moderate (muscle spasms, muscle weakness, lethargy, confusion) to severe (seizures, brain damage, disturbances in heart rhythm, and death). Unsurprisingly, electrolyte disturbances often require medical attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">What causes an electrolyte imbalance? That depends on the electrolyte, but it generally involves poor kidney function, illness, or diuretic medications.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Later, I’ll double click on the symptoms and causes of an electrolyte imbalance. First, though, I want to distinguish between imbalances and deficiencies.</span></p><h2><b>Electrolyte Imbalance vs. Electrolyte Deficiency</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">When someone has an electrolyte imbalance, blood levels of that electrolyte are too low or too high. It shows up on a lab test, and the person may require medical treatment.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">But when someone consumes insufficient electrolytes for optimal health, that’s an electrolyte </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400">deficiency</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400">, and it won’t show up on a blood test. Blood electrolyte levels, in other words, tell you little about dietary electrolyte status.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">How can this be? If you under-consume </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/what-are-electrolytes-and-why-are-they-important" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">electrolytes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, shouldn’t blood levels fall? It seems logical, but your body won’t let it happen. It won’t let it happen because serum electrolyte levels are priority number one. Basic cellular functions depend on it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Your body works tirelessly to maintain serum electrolytes. For example, it secretes hormones like aldosterone, renin, angiotensin, and norepinephrine that </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3951800/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">curb</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> sodium losses. These hormones ALSO elevate blood pressure, but your body doesn’t care. That’s long-term heart health stuff. Retaining sodium is the priority.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Your body also doesn’t care about bone health. Not as much as serum electrolytes, anyway. When serum electrolytes fall, your body starts excavating bone like it’s the gold rush of 1849. The “gold”, in this case, is the sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium stored in your skeleton. Should we be surprised that deficiencies in each of these minerals are linked to osteoporosis?[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6140170/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">][</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23162100/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">][</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">][</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3775240/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">] The question all but answers itself.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">But again, these deficiencies DO NOT cause an electrolyte imbalance. Not alone. Electrolyte imbalances are rare in folks with healthy kidneys—the key organs in the electrolyte maintenance system.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">What actually causes electrolyte imbalance, then? And what symptoms should you watch for? Keep reading.</span></p><h2><b>Sodium Imbalance: Symptoms and Causes</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Heard of </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/hyponatremia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">hyponatremia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">? I’ve spent an absurd amount of time thinking, writing, and worrying about this dangerous state of low serum sodium.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">The main </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470386/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">causes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> of hyponatremia are kidney failure, heart failure, liver disease, cancer, vomiting, diarrhea, diuretic usage, and </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/can-you-drink-too-much-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">overhydration</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> with plain water. Drinking too much plain water is super dangerous, especially for elite athletes. Many have perished, and many more have suffered debilitating symptoms.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">But non-competitors can develop milder cases of </span><span style="font-weight: 400">exercise-associated </span><span style="font-weight: 400">hyponatremia too. If you’re not replacing sweat losses with water plus sodium, you’re at risk. I speak from experience.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Symptoms of mild hyponatremia include muscle cramps, fatigue, mood swings, brain fog, low energy, and feeling “off.” As sodium levels continue to fall, the person may experience:</span></p><ul><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Confusion</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Light sensitivity</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Seizures</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Loss of consciousness</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Extreme lethargy</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Brain swelling</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Brain damage</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Death</span></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441960/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">Hypernatremia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> (high serum sodium), on the other hand, is generally a problem for elderly folks with fluid access and thirst issues. The symptoms of hypernatremia are similar to those of </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/dehydration-causes-and-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">dehydration</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">: </span><span style="font-weight: 400">cramps, thirst, irritability, dry skin, and dark urine.</span></p><h2><b>Potassium Imbalance: Symptoms and Causes</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">If you’re suffering from </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/low-potassium-symptoms-and-best-sources" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">low potassium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, it was probably caused by diarrhea, diuretics, laxatives, or kidney issues. It’s not because you didn’t eat enough potassium-rich foods.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">The symptoms of low potassium (hypokalemia) </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482465/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">include</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">:</span></p><ul><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Cardiac arrhythmias</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Slow heart rate</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Brain damage</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Blood sugar dysregulation</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Muscle paralysis</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400">The symptoms of hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) are similar. Hyperkalemia is typically </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470284/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">caused by</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> severe injury, chronic kidney disease, or certain medications.</span></p><h2><b>Magnesium Imbalance: Symptoms and Causes</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">About 2% of the general population </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500003/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">has</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> hypomagnesemia. Low serum magnesium is much more common (10-20%) in hospitalized patients with unhealthy kidneys.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Accordingly, the main causes of hypomagnesemia are kidney failure, chronic gut illness, pancreatitis, various medications, refeeding syndrome, alcoholism, and hungry bone syndrome. And the </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500003/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">symptoms</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> of hypomagnesemia include:</span></p><ul><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Tremors</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Muscle cramps, spasms, or weakness</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Seizures</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Delirium</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lethargy</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Coma</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Heart arrhythmias</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Changes in heart function (seen on an electrocardiogram)</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Insufficient blood supply to the heart (cardiac ischemia)</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Moving on, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549811/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">hypermagnesemia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> (high serum magnesium) can cause weakness, nausea, dizziness, confusion, or altered heartbeat. It often results from impaired kidney function combined with high doses of supplemental magnesium.</span></p><h2><b>Calcium Imbalance: Symptoms and Causes</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">There are two types of calcium imbalance:</span></p><ol><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Hypocalcemia (low serum calcium)</span></li><li style="font-weight: 400"><span style="font-weight: 400">Hypercalcemia (high serum calcium)</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Both are problematic. Hypocalcemia is generally </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430912/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">caused</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> by kidney failure or vitamin D deficiency—and the symptoms include muscle spasms, anxiety, depression, seizures, and irregular heartbeat. It’s less common than hypercalcemia, but can be fatal if not promptly treated.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Hypercalcemia affects 1-2% of the population and usually </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430714/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">results</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> from excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) production, vitamin D toxicity, or certain cancers. The symptoms of hypercalcemia include heart dysrhythmia, bone pain, nausea, fatigue, confusion, constipation, kidney stones, and soft tissue calcification.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">What about calcium supplements? In higher doses, calcium pills provoke a state of temporary hypercalcemia that can cause blood vessels to calcify. This may be why calcium supplements have been </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5620030/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">linked</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> to higher heart disease risk, and it’s why I don’t include calcium in </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/products/lmnt-recharge-electrolyte-drink" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">LMNT</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p><h2><b>Phosphorus Imbalance: Symptoms and Causes</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">I also don’t include phosphorus in LMNT. Why? Because most people get too much (not too little) phosphorus in their diet, and excess phosphorus is bad news for bone density.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">As with the other imbalances, a phosphate imbalance is typically caused by kidney issues, drugs, or diuresis. Interestingly, most patients with </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551586/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">hyperphosphatemia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> (high phosphate levels) and </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493172/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">hypophosphatemia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> (low phosphate levels) are asymptomatic.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Refeeding syndrome can also cause low phosphate levels. After prolonged malnutrition, the body wants to rebuild tissues—and so following the refeed, it pulls phosphate out of the serum and into cells. Then phosphate levels plummet and the person needs critical care.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">This </span><a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJM200511243532124?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">happened</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> to the famous magician David Blaine after 44 days of fasting in a plexiglass box. He was hospitalized for weeks following the stunt.</span></p><h2><b>How To Prevent Electrolyte Imbalances</b></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400">For general health, you can’t go wrong with a mineral-rich diet. This means consuming </span><a href="https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/electrolyte-rich-foods-and-when-to-supplement" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">electrolyte-rich foods</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> like dark leafy greens and vigorously salting your meals, even if you may get a few concerned looks at the family dinner table.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">To be clear, this won’t make you immune to electrolyte disturbances. But it will reduce the risk of them occurring.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Another practical step is to avoid overhydration with plain water. Simply drink to thirst and </span><a href="https://science.drinklmnt.com/electrolytes/does-salt-help-with-hydration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400">add salt</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400"> to water when replacing sweat losses. That’s a simple formula for preventing hyponatremia.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">But beyond hyponatremia, electrolyte imbalances aren’t usually so simple. Rather, they’re an unfortunate consequence of kidney issues, heart issues, medications, or chronic illness.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">If you’re dealing with any of these factors, you may need special treatment. (Supplementation, shifting your medicinal protocol, fixing the underlying issue, etc.) This is something to discuss with your medical professional.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400">Understand that it may take some investigation to determine what’s going on. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you’ll be in a better position to handle it.</span></p>