Electrolyte imbalance: What we can do

Electrolytes are existing minerals in the blood, tissues and other parts of the body.

They include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, chloride and bicarbonate. These electrolytes have a positive or negative electrical charge, as the name indicates.

An electrolyte imbalance may occur when the body has too much or too little water turning its mineral levels too high or too low.

We should watch out for electrolyte imbalance as it can sneakily upset the normal functions of the body, sometimes leading to serious complications.

Its effects depend on various things like which mineral has increased or decreased in the body, how severe the issue is, and whether a person has other health conditions.

For instance, low sodium levels in the blood can cause hyponatremia and high sodium levels can result in hypernatremia.

Common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance are: irregular heartbeat, fatigue, lethargy, seizures, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, muscle weakness or cramping, confusion, headaches etc.

Drinking a rehydration solution should help replenish the mineral levels of healthy adults with mild dehydration.

However, in case of any health condition or severe symptoms of electrolyte imbalance, seeking doctor's guidance is recommended.

Having a healthy diet with enough fluid is important to prevent such imbalance. For most people, electrolytes are replenished with a normal diet.

Regularly eating watery foods like melons, salads, things that are naturally juicy, is a good idea. If you are a sports person or otherwise more active physically than an average person, you should increase intake of rehydration solutions like healthy sports drinks.