a focus on hydration and electrolytes vital for athletes . Depletion will reduce performance and could lead to serious illness .
What Are The Most Common Electrolytes ?
Potassium : Potassium is particularly important for regulating heart function . It also helps maintain healthy nerves and muscles . Hyperkalemia may develop due to high levels of potassium . This condition can be fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated . It ’ s typically triggered by : severe dehydration , kidney failure , severe acidosis including diabetic ketoacidosis , certain medications , including some blood pressure medications and diuretics and adrenal insufficiency , which lead to low cortisol levels .
Calcium : Calcium is a vital mineral that your body uses to stabilize blood pressure and control skeletal muscle contraction . It is also used to build strong bones and teeth . Hypercalcemia occurs when you have too much calcium in the blood . This is usually caused by : kidney disease , thyroid disorders , including hyperparathyroidism , lung diseases , such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis , certain
types of cancer , including lung and breast cancers and excessive use of antacids and calcium or vitamin D supplements .
Sodium : Sodium is an essential component of our diet . It is one of the most important minerals that serves several purposes in your body . Working side by side with potassium , sodium helps regulate the fluids in your bloodstream . A healthy balance of sodium , potassium and water helps keep your blood flowing smoothly , to nourish and oxygenate your muscles , organs and brain . However , too much salt can be bad for you . When salt intake is high , excess fluid accumulates in the circulatory system to compensate , which ends up raising blood pressure and taxing the heart . Hypertension is closely tied to stroke , coronary heart disease , dementia , and increased risk for kidney disease .
Sodium and Kidney Function
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in the renal system . The body removes unwanted fluid by filtering your blood through your kidneys . This process uses a delicate balance of sodium and potassium to pull the water across a wall of cells from the bloodstream into a collecting channel that leads to the bladder .
Eating a lot of salty foods can disrupt the balance of minerals in the blood . This can make it harder for the kidneys to work properly . The result is a higher blood pressure due to the extra fluid and extra strain on the delicate blood vessels leading to the kidneys .
Over time , this extra strain can damage the kidneys leading to kidney disease . This reduces the ability of the kidneys to filter out unwanted and toxic waste products , which then start to build up in the body . If kidney disease is left untreated and the blood pressure is not well controlled , the damage can lead to kidney failure .
Kepha Nyanumba is a working as a Consultant Nutritionist at Crystal Health Consultants Limited . You can engage him on this or related matters via mail : KNyanumba @ chc . co . ke , or follow him on twitter at : knyanumba .