Particularly if you do not replace electrolytes and fluid lost through excessive sweating, you increase the possibility of developing an electrolyte imbalance. Hypomagnesemia, or a low serum magnesium level, is one of those imbalances. Because a low magnesium level is life-threatening if it progresses untreated, it is important that you understand your personal risk factors, as well as the symptoms of the condition.
Excessive Sweating
Your body uses sweating as a function to keep itself cool. This is why you sweat more when you exert yourself or when it is hot outside. Other sweating triggers include: caffeine and alcohol consumption, fever and emotional or stressful situations. The amount of sweat produced varies from person to person; however, if you experience unpredictable excessive sweating, you may have a condition called hyperhidrosis. There are many causes of hyperhidrosis, and some of them include serious conditions such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease. Additionally, manifestations of profuse sweating, such as a low magnesium level, are also serious. Expect your doctor to perform testing to uncover the cause of hyperhidrosis if she diagnoses you with the disorder.
Hypomagnesemia
Excessive sweating without electrolyte replacement is one cause of hypomagnesemia. Other causes include malnutrition and malabsorption syndromes, chronic diarrhea and alcoholism. Diabetes mellitus, long-term use of diuretic medications and advanced age are also some causes of the disorder. Untreated hypomagnesemia may lead to other electrolyte disturbances, such as low serum potassium and calcium levels. You may retain sodium, as well.
Symptoms and Complications of Hypomagnesemia
Some symptoms of hypomagnesemia are fatigue and numbness. You may notice cramping, spasming and muscle weakness. Nystagmus, a condition of abnormal eye movements, is also a symptom of low magnesium. The same is true of convulsions. Gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Untreated hypomagnesemia can result in severe -- sometimes life-threatening -- complications such as cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest and even death.
Treatment
Treatment of low magnesium aims at the underlying cause of the disorder, such as excessive sweating. Treatment of the primary cause decreases the likelihood of future episodes of the electrolyte imbalance. Acute treatment of hypomagnesemia involves oral magnesium supplementation or intravenous administration of a magnesium preparation. Also, expect your doctor to prescribe intravenous replacement of lost body water.
