6 Alarming Signs That Point to an Electrolyte Imbalance

 One of the main reasons why we’re all constantly advised to stay hydrated has to do with electrolytes. These water-soluble compounds must be maintained at specific levels for your body to function. Offsetting this balance can lead vital body functions to shut down and inner organs to be affected, causing a multitude of very unpleasant symptoms. Read all about electrolyte disorders, their signs, and their causes in this educational guide.

Why are electrolytes important?

Electrolytes are natural compounds necessary for the physiological functioning of the body. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium are all examples of electrolytes. Electrolytes are present in all bodily fluids, including blood and urine. We receive them by ingesting certain foods, drinks, and even plain water. 

 

Different electrolytes perform varying functions in the body, for example: 

 

Magnesium is important for healthy muscles, bones, teeth, and nerves. 

 

Sodium is responsible for optimizing fluid levels, as well as nerve and muscle function. 

 

Potassium helps the heart, muscles, and nerves, and supports your metabolism. 

 

Calcium is essential for healthy blood pressure and the nervous system. It’s also important for the production of hormones, and enzymes. 

 

Chloride, like calcium, aids in maintaining cardiovascular health, as well as bodily fluids. 

 

When the levels of electrolytes are either too high or too low, an electrolyte imbalance occurs. Severe imbalances of this kind can result in emergency hospitalization due to seizures, cardiac arrest, and coma. 

 

 

Causes of electrolyte imbalances

 

Anyone can develop an electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes are excreted by the body through bodily fluids, including sweat and urine. Hence, conditions or states where someone loses a lot of bodily fluids can lead to an electrolyte imbalance. The classic example is a food-borne illness causing an electrolyte imbalance due to a loss of fluids as a result of vomiting and diarrhea. 

 

Severe burns, broken bones, overhydration, dehydration, and some medications can be responsible for an electrolyte disorder.

 

 Certain underlying conditions make some people more likely to get an electrolyte disorder, namely: 

 

Kidney disease 

 

Liver cirrhosis 

 

Congestive heart failure 

 

Problems with the thyroid and adrenal gland 

 

Excessive alcohol use 

 

Eating disorders (e.g., anorexia and bulimia).

Last but not least, kids and older adults are more susceptible to electrolyte imbalances than other adults. In older people, specifically, dehydration can lead to electrolyte disorders.

 

Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance 

Depending on the electrolytes that are most affected, the body can respond to an electrolyte disorder in different ways - some more severe than others. For example, an excess of sodium in the blood leads to a condition called hypernatremia which makes you experience insomnia, restlessness, and shallow breathing. Listed below are the 6 most common symptoms of electrolyte imbalances: 

 

 

1. Nausea

Feeling sick on your stomach and vomiting can indicate a variety of electrolyte disorders or result in one. If you’re feeling nauseous after a sweaty workout, during a hike, or after a prolonged period of time without drinking, an electrolyte imbalance may be to blame. 

 

2. Dizziness or confusion 

Experiencing brain fog, dizziness, or confusion after a period of activity can certainly point to an electrolyte issue, especially when it’s combined with other symptoms listed here. In fact, it’s important to pay attention to any sudden changes in mood, as irritability, fatigue, or a feeling of disorientation can all indicate that something bad is going on in the body. Extreme changes may even indicate that the brain is affected - says the Cleveland Clinic.  

 

3. Headache

A headache is one of the first symptoms of many electrolyte imbalances, including a sodium deficiency (called hyponatremia). This is often caused by dehydration, which is why drinking a glass of mineral water or even plain old filtered water can often help you get rid of a headache.

4. Swelling in the ankles, face, and abdomen  

If you wear rings or a wristwatch, you may have noticed that it feels tighter when you walk around without drinking water for a while. We recognize this symptom as “water retention” or “fluid buildup,” and it’s one of the tell-tale signs of an electrolyte deficiency. The same happens when you have a bowl of salty popcorn in the evening and wake up with puffy eyes the next morning. You’re experiencing these symptoms because excess sodium makes your body retain water. 

 

 

5. Weight gain after a workout

 

If anything, workouts should make you lose a little weight; not the other way around. So, if you step on the scale before and after a workout, you should notice a slight decline in weight due to sweating. Athletes sometimes do this to test if they’re drinking enough water during a workout; a decline in weight is an indication that you should drink more during training. 

 

However, people with low sodium levels can actually end up gaining weight during exercise. This indicates fluid buildup and means that you should drink less during a workout. If that doesn’t help, it could also be that you’re eating too much salty food. 

 

 

6. Cramps and seizures

Muscle cramps, seizures, and coma are all possible symptoms of a severe, life-threatening, electrolyte imbalance. The faster these symptoms tend to develop, the more dangerous they are according to the Mayo Clinic. 

 

Such severe electrolyte disorders can permanently damage the inner organs, including the brain. Other signs of an electrolyte imbalance that requires emergency treatment are: 

 

Alkalosis - excessive blood alkalinity 

 

Metabolic acidosis - the buildup of acid in the body 

 

Dark and cloudy urine due to myoglobinuria (blood myoglobin in the urine) or rhabdomyolysis (muscles leak proteins and electrolytes into the blood) 

 

Delirium - a mental state in which you are so disoriented that you’re unable to think clearly. 

 

 

 How can you manage and treat an electrolyte imbalance?

The course of treatment depends on the severity of the disruption, as well as the specific electrolyte imbalance and its cause. For example, if you’re experiencing a headache due to minor dehydration, slowly drinking a few glasses of water, another beverage, or an electrolyte drink will make you feel better right away. More serious dehydration, such as that caused by vomiting and diarrhea, may require that you drink oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution, which is available at every drugstore. 

 

Lastly, severe electrolyte imbalances require medical treatment like:

 

IV fluids and medicine to rehydrate and restore a healthy electrolyte balance in the body. 

 

Oral medications that replace missing electrolytes. 

 

 Hemodialysis - used to correct electrolyte disorders brought on by kidney damage or kidney failure.

 

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Delirium: It’s More Common Than You Think

Also called "acute confusional state" or "organic brain syndrome,” delirium is a scary condition most of us don’t want to think about. Sadly, this brain disorder is way more common than you think, especially among older adults. It’s a serious condition that should not be ignored or confused with dementia, as any delay in treatment can be very dangerous. The good news is that delirium is curable (and one in three cases are preventable too), which is why knowing how to spot it in a spouse, family member, friend, or yourself is so incredibly important.

What is delirium? 

Delirium is a neurological condition when brain activity gets so disrupted that it impairs one’s cognitive abilities and causes widespread confusion. People who have delirium act nothing like themselves, and they may not even recognize their own family members.

This health condition is most common in older adults at the hospital; 1 in 3 hospitalized adults over age 70 have it. However, anyone can experience delirium, even if it’s less widespread. 

 

Delirium is a very serious condition, but the good news is that it’s often temporary. Treatment is administered depending on the cause, be it illness, medication side effects, or infection. 

 

So you already know that hospitalization and age can increase one’s risk of developing delirium. But there are also a few other factors, namely: 

 

Surgery or injury 

 

Misuse of medications 

 

Dementia or Parkinson's disease 

 

Insomnia 

 

Living in a nursing home 

 

Hearing or vision impairment 

 

Multiple underlying health conditions.

 

A history of depression. 

 

A past history of delirium. 

 

Symptoms of delirium 

 

Confusion is considered the primary symptom of delirium. Practically, this symptom manifests itself through: 

 

Trouble concentrating and shifting attention from one thing to another 

 

Disorientation 

 

Having difficulties recalling the date, time, and where you are 

 

Not recognizing family members, friends, and acquaintances 

 

Trouble explaining yourself clearly, rambling 

 

Difficulties recalling recent memories.

In addition, individuals going through delirium may display: 

 

Rapid changes in movement (such as being hyperactive or unusually slow) 

 

Drowsiness, withdrawal, and apathy 

 

Mood swings, increased irritability, paranoia, fear, or anger 

 

Moaning or calling out 

 

Sudden difficulties completing everyday activities, such as eating, walking, reading, or writing. 

 

Symptoms appear rather rapidly – within hours or days, and they fluctuate throughout the day. In general, a person experiencing delirium may also feel better during the day, but get worse at night when the surroundings look more unfamiliar. 

 

As you may have noticed, some of these symptoms contradict each other. That’s because delirium can make a person more active, less active, or have them ping-pong between hyperactivity and reduced activity. That’s why doctors typically distinguish between the following three types of delirium:

Types of delirium 

 

1. Hyperactive delirium 

Individuals with this type of delirium are anxious, agitated, and have mood swings. They may refuse to cooperate with caregivers, display aggression, and talk with a “filter,” meaning that they are more rude than usual or use profanity even though they’ve never done so in the past. Symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, may also be present. All in all, the individual suddenly becomes more restless and active than usual. 

 

2. Hypoactive delirium

Hypoactive delirium is the flip side of the previous type, as it is accompanied by a reduced level of activity. Individuals with this type of delirium appear sluggish, unable to concentrate, and appear to be in a daze. They may also have a blank facial expression while speaking or display no interest in the surroundings. Movements may become slower, they may sleep more, miss meals, and seem quiet and withdrawn. 

 

3. Mixed delirium  

As the name indicates, this type combines the features of the previous two types. A person may switch back and forth between hyperactive and hypoactive delirium. Generally, you may not see a change in activity level, but the person will display hyperactive symptoms, like agitation, and then return to hypoactive symptoms by sleeping all day. 

 

What is the difference between delirium and dementia? 

These two conditions are often confused because they are similar on the surface. Even though both delirium and dementia involve confusion and memory issues as a symptom, there are several key differences between these two conditions. 

 

The primary difference is the rapid onset. Delirium begins quickly and abruptly, whereas a person with dementia will generally get worse over a long period of time, often years. Another feature of delirium are the fluctuations between periods of alertness and confusion during the day. In contrast, dementia is a more constant reduction in cognitive abilities. The memory issues tend to be different too: while dementia patients have long-term memory problems, delirium patients have issues with short-term memory.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.  

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Suffering from the flu? Top ways to recover faster

Caught the flu? Here's how you can speed up your recovery

Amidst an active threat of COVID-19, flu cases are rising rampantly. And unlike previous seasons, this year's influenza season is severe, lingering on for longer for those who do contract it. Studies have also found that there's a high likelihood of developing long flu , much like long COVID.

Now, while flu may be a routine illness which we have been routinely exposed to, and does not have a strict isolation norm like COVID requires, it's still very much important that we treat flu symptoms seriously, and do not delay any diagnosis or symptoms of concern. 

How long are you contagious when you have the flu? Till when do the symptoms last?

Flu is a major respiratory infection wherein symptoms start to come up 2-5 days post contraction. Now, while most of the symptoms are very similar to that of a cold, allergies, or even COVID-19, the symptoms in itself could linger on for 5-7 days. In more severe cases, wherein an individual might be suffering from a pre-existing, immunosuppressant condition, it could take considerably longer to fight the infection. In most cases, a full recovery happens within 2 weeks. However, one can still continue to reel from some symptoms, or feel weak or drained, even if the infection has been successfully fought off.

Having said that, while a usual recovery plan relies on symptomatic treatment, rest and recovery, here are a few helpful ways to recover faster from the flu, and relieve symptoms:

Firstly, stay home and do not venture out

Now, while we do stress that flu is relatively less contagious than COVID-19, it's still advisable to stay at home , and avoid stepping out till the time the infection symptoms have reduced considerably. Staying home, ample rest and sleep are the best strategies to fight the flu naturally.

Simply said, when you are recuperating from the flu, the body's very fragile, and if you do step out or engage in routine tasks, not only do you risk spreading the symptoms onto others, but also would feel a lot weaker, and stressed, which can ultimately prolong recovery. It's also advisable that when you do interact with others, or have respiratory symptoms like the cough or cold, a mask is used to reduce transmission risk.

Hydrate yourself well

Dehydration can be a complication which can stem from fighting a flu, especially when you are not too careful about your diet or your hydration levels. Therefore, one way to hasten up your recovery is to have ample of drinks- nourishing, soothing and hydrating drinks, which would also feel relieving for the throat and clear sinuses up.

During your recovery, ensure that you have at least 1-2 litres of water without fail, and increase your intake of ORS fluids as well. However, do keep your consumption of caffeinated beverages to the bare minimum since they can further dehydrate you.

Take flu medications wisely

While battling the flu can be a very routine illness, we also have a lot of easily available OTC medications to fight the flu. However, the medications can greatly differ, and it's important not to self-medicate upon getting sick. Take medications according to what your current symptoms are, and only after checking with a doctor.

There are also a lot of antivirals available to fight the flu, which can be consulted before use. The need for antivirals also greatly vary, and depend on a case-by-case basis.

Attend to pre-existing conditions, if any

Flu can prove to be a bigger threat if you already suffer from a condition like diabetes, high B.P. or heart disease. While such risk factors require more precise care, a viral infection could also disturb vital health parameters, spike up blood sugar levels or raise cholesterol levels (because of the foods you eat, or missing medications). Hence, it's always advised that someone who has diabetes or high B.P. keep monitoring their vitals even more frequently when they have the flu, take all necessary medications. The more you are in control over your preconditions, the better and easier it would be to fight the flu.

Add moisture in the room

When you have the flu, it can be quite uncomfortable to have a blocked nose, sinus issues which could make it difficult to breathe properly. To avoid such problems, it's advisable to add some form of moisture to the room you're resting in. Try taking a hot shower, doing steam inhalation, using a humidifier to do so. While sleeping, doctors also advise adding a pillow to take the pressure off the sinuses, which will also provide more rest.

Have foods which are easy on your stomach

Encountering digestive troubles when you are fighting the flu can be very common, and most times, when you have a terrible case of the flu, proper eating habits go for a toss. It's important to thus have meals and foods which are light and easy on the stomach, and equally nourishing. Traditional staples like oatmeal, soup, khichdi, dal are all easy and healthy. What you should also be concentrating on is filling up on nutrients which can assist the immune system in speedier recovery. Therefore, try to take in as much Vitamin C, antioxidants, zinc and protein through your meals (fruits, veggies , pulses and legumes) to recover faster.

Avoid these foods when you are sick

Anything oily, greasy, spicy, fried or processed is best kept away when you are fighting the flu. What you eat plays a very essential role, and loading up on unhealthy, or foods which are heavier for your body to digest may not bode well. Also avoid having too much of sugary drinks, and if you are a diabetic, be careful to look over at the medications and cough syrups, since there could be extra sugar hiding in them.

What are some signs of infection worsening to be careful of?

While a flu infection tends to get better in a week or ten days for most people, the infection can also turn severe for people and worsen without notice. The flu actually has a high rate of mortality. Therefore, those with a weak immune system should be careful and be on the lookout for these signs and symptoms of worsening health:

-Dehydration

-Dizziness, confusion, delirium

-Abdominal pain

-Swelling and rashes

-Nausea , blood with vomiting

readmore

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Coronavirus: 5 critical COVID signs and symptoms that demand hospitalization

Warning signs of COVID hospitalization

The trajectory of COVID cases in the country is spiking up yet again. With over 2,00,000 fresh cases recorded as of April 16, 2021, the fourth wave of coronavirus is perhaps the scariest one.

The spike in caseloads is also adding pressure on the healthcare system and diagnostics. As doctors are suspecting, the newer COVID strains are not only a lot more infectious but also bringing along severe symptoms and complications for even the young and healthy.

2. What are your chances of getting severe COVID-19 infection?

While a lot of people recover well under home quarantine and many patients being advised to seek hospitalized care only if necessary, it's also crucial to recognize signs of trouble and seek attention at the right time. Like what is being seen right now, severe COVID is not just risky for the elderly or the ones with comorbidity, it can also quickly strike healthier patients and cause symptoms that may be harder to identify.

3. Pay attention to your symptoms

Remember, the symptoms of SARS-COV2 can quickly progress from mild to worse and require attention. The first week of infection is crucial since this is the time when the viral load peaks. Staying vigilant and being aware of symptoms should be a priority.

Even in low-grade cases, patients need to constantly monitor and look out for symptoms to determine whether a case has become severe and hospitalization is needed.

Here are some signs that one needs to be shifted to the hospital in such a scenario:

4. Experiencing difficulty in breathing

Breathlessness and chest pain can be signs of a worsening infection. Coronavirus is a respiratory infection and the virus attacks the healthy cells in the upper tract and the airways, making it difficult to catch a breath. If your breathing feels laboured, you feel out of breath if you pace about the room or walk up a flight of stairs, these can point to signs of trouble. In the same way, experiencing trouble in inhaling and exhaling should also make you keep a close eye. Connect to a doctor and take immediate action to prevent infection from worsening.

5.  A dip in oxygen levels

Low oxygen saturation is a concerning cause of any illness. When a person contracts COVID-19, there are chances that he/she may also develop COVID pneumonia which inflames the air sacs in the lungs and they may get filled with fluid or pus and even dip oxygen levels in the body. While hospitalized patients are constantly monitored for their vitals, in cases of a worsening infection, oxygen levels can often go down pretty quickly without the patient even realizing it. Hence, some states started to supply a pulse oximeter for patients under home quarantine to keep a check on their readings. If you run low on oxygen, you may experience difficulty breathing and that is a sign you need medical care.

6. Delirium, or experiencing confusion of any sort

COVID-19 also affects the brain and nervous system in mild ways. A clear change in how you feel, experiencing bouts of confusion, feeling sleepy or slugging or brush with delirium is a symptom of the infection worsening. Experts also say that another point of worry is if the patient finds it difficult to carry out simple tasks, or speak a sentence without slurring, immediate care is needed.

7. Chest pain

Any kind of chest pain should never be taken lightly. SARS-COV2 attacks the mucosal linings in the lungs and in many cases, it can result in a tugging pain or discomfort in and around the chest area. COVID+ patients also experience what experts term substernal chest pain, under their breastbone. If your pain gets unbearable or causes any sort of discomfort, it should be evaluated at the earliest.

8. Blue lips

Bluish discolouration to the lips or parts of the face is a sign that oxygen levels are being depleted to critical care and experience hypoxia. If not taken care of, it can also turn life-threatening. Hence, this is one symptom that should never be treated lightly.

9. What other symptoms does one need to watch out for?

Apart from the above-listed symptom, a worsening of any existing symptom or appearance of new ones (such as fever, diarrhoea, fatigue, dip in vitals) should be reason enough for you to call the emergency services.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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