Electrolyte management is not an issue for healthy people because their kidneys regulate electrolyte levels. At most, fluid replacement might be necessary if you sweat heavily after an intense athletic event. Management of electrolytes is very different for kidney patients, because their kidneys can no longer perform this important regulatory function.
Definitions
MedlinePlus explains that "electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge." These include calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium and bicarbonate.
Dialysis is a treatment used when the kidneys are so impaired that they can no longer sustain life. Management of electrolytes is an important part of helping patients who need this life-saving treatment.
Potassium
The concentration of potassium on either side of the membrane of neurons, or nerve cells, controls whether those nerves can fire. When potassium levels become elevated, as they often are in kidney patients on dialysis, nerves misfire, causing irregular heartbeats. Nephrologists monitor potassium closely in dialysis patients and may recommend a low-potassium diet.
Calcium
Calcium is normally stored in the bones, with smaller amounts in the cells. For people on dialysis, the issue is keeping calcium in the bones. Patients on dialysis often have high serum phosphorus, which leaches calcium out of the bone. Nephrologists treat high calcium and high phosphorus levels by limiting dietary phosphorus levels and prescribing phosphorus binders that deactivate dietary phosphorus.
Sodium
Sodium is a positively charged electrolyte that is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Rigorous control of blood pressure is important because heart disease is the leading cause of death among kidney patients. You can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range by limiting dietary sodium and not consuming more fluids than your nephrologist recommends.
References
- "Nutrition in Clinical Practice"' Electrolytes and fluid management in Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis.
- MedlinePlus: Electrolytes
- National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- The Renal Unit: Calcium and the Dialysis Patient
- DaVita: Calcium and Chronic Kidney Disease; Sara Colman
- DaVita: Sodium and Chronic Kidney Disease
