What Is The Meaning Of Electrolytes?
The word electrolytes seem alien to you, but you all know about this, though with different names, and I will not keep you speculating about this unaccustomed word, and end your curiosity by telling you about this.
Electrolytes are the collective name used for a group of minerals and salts. It is a medical term, therefore, common people are not familiar with this term. In a layman's term, you can say that these are common minerals and salts which you and I are using in our daily diets, knowingly or unknowingly.
What are these minerals and salts? These are Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Chlorides. You will wonder to know that the common salt which you use every day in your meals is an electrolyte, and its chemistry name is Sodium Chloride. This salt plays an important role in the smooth functioning of your body.
You use these salts and minerals in your daily diet. Your body retains these minerals as per its needs, and the rest your body throws out through your sweat and urine.
The problem starts when your body throws out excessive salts from your body, and these become deficient. You may drain out more salts as a result of excessive urination and sweating as a result of your some medications and work-outs, or hot and sultry weathers.
You must have noticed a granny skin when you sweat profoundly. When you perspire heavily, you may lose plenty of these salts resulting in a salt-deficiency in your body. This salt-deficiency may seriously affect your body, and in this article, you will get knowledge about these repercussions on your body, muscles, and mind.
What Are The Sources Of Electrolytes?
The diet you take every day contains plenty of electrolytes. Different diets contain different amounts of salts and minerals. Since you take a different kind of diets, therefore, a balance of these minerals is maintained as per the requirements of your bodies, and this equilibrium is indispensable for the smooth functioning of your body and its vital organs.
Sometimes, due to the extensive exercise, some disease conditions like diarrhea, and excessive urination due to some medications, these salts become depleted in your body. In this case, your body gives you an immediate warning by showing changes in your body, behavior, and mental conditions. If you experience one or more such symptoms, which you are going to know in this article, you must immediately take these minerals from an outside source. Electrolytes-contained drinks are the best options.
When the deficiency of these minerals is made up, you will feel better, and all the symptoms will go away.
What Do Electrolytes Do In Your Body?
The different salts work with your body to keep it healthy. The water transports these minerals in your body where these are needed. The electrolytes help to keep a balance of fluids in your body, and this balance is essential for the proper functioning of your vital organs like your heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and brain. These salts also keep your muscles in a healthy condition.
Sodium Chloride (common salt) regulates the water level in your body, and the deficiency of this salt plays havoc to your body.
How Your Body Becomes Electrolytes Deficient?
Water is the most important part of your body and it makes 60% of your whole mass.
The water is a wonderful beast which keeps your blood to flow through your veins and arteries.
This water carries electrolytes and provides where these are needed. When due to extensive exercise or sultry weather, you sweat heavily, you lose too many minerals, and it results in the deficiency of electrolytes in your body.
What Is The Result Of Electrolytes-Deficiency In Your Body?
When you lose too many electrolytes due to any reasons, you may feel:
- Dizziness
- Feel bloated
- Lethargic attitude
- Headaches
- Feeling exhausted
- Kidney problems
What Is Dehydration, And Its Connection With Electrolytes?
Dehydration means losing excessive water through sweating or urination.
In children, as a result of diarrhea, dehydration may occur, therefore doctors advise to feed them continuously, and also to give them electrolytes-supplemented water to keep their water and electrolytes level at the required level.
The connection between dehydration and electrolytes is deep-rooted because with a loss of water you also lose electrolytes from your body. It means if you are losing excessive water you will become electrolytes-deficient also.
What You Should Do In Case Of Dehydration?
Since dehydration is a serious condition, you should immediately drink a lot of water, and take electrolytes-supplemented water.
Taking electrolytes with water will improve the water distribution in your body and also regulate water distribution in your body. Taking electrolytes will make your head clearer, and your body active. It will also keep your hydration level to its best position.
Advice:
If the symptoms of dehydration do not go away, you should immediately rush to the hospital, as continuity of such situation may be fatal for you.
Important:
Kidney patients are advised by the doctors to keep fast in Ramadan with acute care, especially if the Ramadan falls in the summer season. The reason is that such patients may experience severe dehydration which may result in fatal repercussions.
Are Electrolytes Essential To Keep Your Bodies Healthy?
A certain level of electrolytes is essential for the smooth functioning of your body. You take electrolytes in your daily diet. And if you lose extra electrolytes through excessive sweating or urination, you should take added electrolytes to keep your bodies functioning properly and keep yourself healthy. Medical supplements containing electrolytes are available on drugstores from where you can get these.
0 Comments