Electrolytes, present in the body's fluids, blood and urine, are electrically-charged ions utilized by cells to control nerve and muscle function and fluid balance. When levels of these ions --- most often sodium, potassium and calcium --- become...
Up to 60 percent of the human body is made up of water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That means the fluids -- and food -- you consume on a daily basis play a remarkable role in keeping your body running normally. Any imbalance in...
Sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride and other minerals help keep your body's fluids in balance. These are known as electrolytes. When you develop an electrolyte imbalance and lose too many fluids, you're dehydrated. Typically, this condition...
A nursing diagnosis is a statement that describes a problem related to a patient's disease. A nurse makes a nursing diagnosis by interviewing and examining a patient to find out what issues they have because of the disease or illness they...
Electrolytes are minerals in body fluids that contain an electrical charge. Sodium, calcium, phosphate, carbonate, potassium, chloride and magnesium are the main electrolytes. Maintaining an appropriate electrolyte balance can improve muscle...
Sixty percent of the body contains water, and every system in the body requires water to function properly. The Mayo Clinic notes that water is lost daily through differing means, such as perspiration, bowels and breathing. Electrolytes are...
Lung cancer is the abnormal growth of tissue in the lungs. When cancer originates in the lungs, it can spread to other organs of the body; the spread of lung cancer to the adrenal glands, for example, may result in electrolyte disturbances....
Minerals are elements that come from soil and water, as well as from plants. You need some of these elements to support your basic functions and maintain your health. One vital responsibility of a group of minerals inside your body, called...
Water retention, also called edema, results from excess fluid in the body that causes bloating, swelling or puffiness. Many conditions can affect the kidney's fluid regulation. For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, hormonal imbalances that...
Electrolytes are electrically charged atoms or groups of atoms, found within minerals that need to be . immersed within a solution in order to function properly. Electrolytes are further categorized into anions and cations. Because your body is...
The kidneys are fist-sized organs, shaped much like beans, located below the rib cage near the middle of the back. Their job is to filter the blood, eliminating toxins and waste products while resorbing important nutrients so that they stay in the...
Dyazide is a prescription drug composed of triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide that is used to treat high blood pressure. Dyazide works by changing the balance of sodium and potassium electrolytes in the body to lower blood pressure levels. The...
Excess dietary sodium is a risk factor for high blood pressure and stroke. Yet unlike burning calories in weight loss, you cannot burn off sodium. You can, however, increase sodium loss during certain dietary conditions and prolonged exercise. In...
High sodium in the blood is known as hypernatremia. Sodium is important for many functions in the body. It helps regulate electrical currents in all cells in the body, and is especially important for nerve and muscle currents. Sodium also...
Diarrhea is uncomfortable and aggravating, and if it goes on too long, can actually lead to dehydration and fluid imbalance. There are many causes of loose stool, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These include infection by...
Cancer is an abnormal process in a person's cells. A continuous growth of cells occurs even if they are not needed and old cells don't die when they should. As a result, extra cells form a mass called a tumor, which can be malignant or benign....
Maintaining the balance of fluids in your body is the result of an equation in which the amount of fluid you consume is equal to the amount your body excretes. Much of this balance is maintained by your kidneys, which supply other organs and...
Ironman triathlons are extreme endurance challenges that test your physical limits. With a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycling race and full marathon, the race provides many opportunities to sweat valuable fluid. Fluid loss affects many organs...
A high sodium level in the body, or hypernatremia, may be caused by the kidneys' inability to filter sodium from the body's fluid, inadequate water intake or the consumption of foods that contain a high level of sodium. You may be at risk for...
Fluid balance in the body is an important value in maintaining good health. The amount of water in the body generally comprises about 60 percent of the total body weight. According to HealthLine, when the amount of water going into the body is the...
The human body is mostly composed of water. By weight, about 60 percent of the body is water, and it is separated into different compartments. Electrolytes, which are charged minerals, play a vital role in determining total fluid in the body and...
A relative of the onion, chives are an herb often served on top of baked potatoes, in omelets and as a garnish for soups. Their slender green leaves provide flavor similar to the onion. Europeans commonly grew chives in their herb gardens...
Liposuction is a procedure that uses a special tool to reduce inches and contour the body. A plastic surgeon makes small incisions in the skin and inserts tubes to probe and suction out fat in the stomach, sides, buttocks, neck, hips, upper arms...
Electrically charged atoms that exist in your body in solution are called electrolytes. Electrolytes play a vital role in fluid balance, nerve function, heart beat and oxygen content. Also known as ions, electrolytes are divided into two groups,...
A consistent running regimen can build your cardiovascular endurance and help with weight control. In some cases, however, you might find that your belly is getting bigger after a run. While it can be discouraging, it is often something simple...
Your kidneys play an important role in your bodily functions as part of your urinary system. Kidneys have the vital duty of removing waste from your blood as your body's filtering system. A low-oxalate diet is recommended for a variety of...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has many causes, including stress, lack of exercise, high-fat diet and excess body weight. Licorice is a far less common cause of hypertension, and it functions essentially by disturbing the fluid balance in...
Electrolytes are a group of minerals that conduct electricity in your blood and body fluids. These minerals help control a number of vital functions related to the water levels in your body, including normal muscle function and the relative...
The mineral sodium is essential to your diet because it helps maintain vital biochemical functions. Sodium acts as an electrolyte, an electrically charged ion that transmits nerve impulses, regulates fluid balance and influences muscular...