One of the fundamental functions of the heart is to generate a steady rhythm. This enables blood to be pumped efficiently throughout the body. Heart rhythm is generated by a variety of processes that come together and ensure that heart muscles contract and relax in the right sequence. Key functions needed for this to occur are electrical impulses that are used to sustain normal heartbeats. Proper electrolyte balance is necessary for electrical activity to take place.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are minerals that become charged particles when dissolved in water. Their charge enables them to carry electricity in a water medium. Every cell in the body needs electrolytes to function. Examples of such electrolytes are sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium. One function is to maintain the electrical integrity of the cell's outer covering or membrane. In specialized cells such as neurons or cardiac cells, this membrane is responsible for the electrical impulses required for that cell to communicate with other cells.
Normal Heart Rhythm
Normal heart rhythm means the pace of the heartbeat does not change greatly from beat to beat. Heart rate can indeed change, but it is not an abrupt change from one beat to the next. This steady rhythm is a result of the heart's intrinsic nervous system and the cardiac cells, each of which depends on a balance between the various electrolytes to maintain normal rhythm. Each time the heart generates a beat, it is the result of numerous physiological processes coming together, most of which are controlled by electrolyte balance.
Electrolyte Imbalance
The relative proportion of electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, is crucial to maintaining normal heart function. If one electrolyte is not in proportion to another, or out of balance, then changes in heart rhythm can result. The kidneys regulate the amount of electrolytes in the blood. If the kidneys do not function properly, too much or too little of one or more electrolytes can be excreted in the urine. This can lead to a disproportionate amount of one or more electrolytes in the blood, causing an imbalance.
Heart Problems
Under conditions of electrolyte imbalance, such as might occur with dehydration or some diseases, the kidneys can fail to retain some electrolytes. If too much potassium is lost in the urine, the heart's electrical activity can be altered, resulting in palpitations, or the sensation of changes in heartbeat. When sodium and potassium are lost in the urine, the result can be a heart dysfunction called arrhythmia, or abnormal beats. Most of the time, such problems can be quickly reversed by giving the patient electrolytes by drink or intravenous administration.
