An electrolyte disturbance designates an electrolyte mirror in the body, deviating from the normal level. In extreme cases a serious or continuous electrolyte disturbance can finally lead to heart problems, malfunctionings of the nervous system, organ failure and to death.

The most serious electrolyte disturbances concern the mirrors of potassium, sodium and/or calcium. Other electrolyte unequal weights are rarer and often arise together with the disturbances of the main electrolytes.

Nomenclature

The nomenclature for electrolyte disturbances plans:

1. The name begins with a prefix, which indicates whether the electrolyte mirror is abnorm increased ("hyper") or degraded ("hypo").
2. The word trunk indicates the names electrolytes.
3. The name ends with the suffix "- which means as much as "in the blood". (To note it is that this disturbance does not only show up in the blood, an electrolyte disturbance is systemic. But because the disturbance usually is determined over a blood test, this convention developed.)

Frequent electrolyte disturbances

See also

• Acidosis
• Alkalose
• Exsikkose (drainage)
• Lack nutrition
• Malnutrition

Articles in category "Electrolyte disturbance"

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