Electrolytes are essential minerals that have the ability to conduct electricity. These electrically charged ions play a role in critical life processes. The balance of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride changes as fluid levels in the body change. A headache can be a sign that the fluid balance in your body is off.
Causes
Electrolyte imbalances in the body are often caused by mineral deficiency or mineral overload. Excessive fluid loss can cause low electrolyte levels as well. Common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance include fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth and decreased urine output. Rapid heartbeat, lethargy, confusion, delirium, hypertension and a bad headache are more serious symptoms. These can also be signs of severe dehydration. Weather conditions, physical activity and medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, Addison's disease or alcoholism are other causes of electrolyte imbalance. Certain medications including diuretics, ACE inhibitors, chemotherapy drugs and mineral supplements can also lead to electrolyte imbalances.
Dehydration
Often individuals with diabetes insipidus---a rare condition in which the body passes too much urine---have too little water in the body, causing dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration may include dry mouth, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, elevated blood sodium level, headache and rapid heartbeat. Diabetes insipidus can also cause an electrolyte imbalance. Fatigue, headache and muscle pains are common symptoms. When your body is low on water, your brain puts out a signal for the release of histamines. Although the body is programmed to produce histamine when something goes wrong, too much of it causes an allergic reaction that may involve pain. Not getting enough water also lowers blood volume. In response, the body shuts off some of the smaller capillaries to force more blood flow to the brain.
Potassium Deficiency
Potassium is a nutrient essential to life. Electrolytes such as potassium and sodium help maintain a proper balance of fluids in the body. Potassium controls how much fluid cells maintain on the inside while sodium controls the amount of fluid on the outside of cells. The mineral plays a role in muscle contractions, is needed for conducting nerve impulses and helps maintain normal blood pressure. These functions help prevent hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Similar to the symptoms of dehydration, low potassium levels in the blood can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, edema and headaches.
Treatment
In cases where depletions of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, chloride or magnesium have occurred, it is necessary to restore the proper electrolyte balance. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the electrolyte imbalance. You may need to replace fluid volume orally or your doctor may administer fluids or isotonic solutions intravenously. Minor imbalances can usually be corrected by making changes in your diet. If you have a low level of sodium in your blood, it may be necessary to limit the amount of fluids you drink.
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