Connecting the Dots: Symptoms, Electrolytes, and Organ Health

Do you ever experience nagging fatigue, troubling abdominal pain, or annoying muscle aches? You may chalk your recurring symptoms up to a late night, a greasy meal, or a tough workout. But the truth is, they could actually be signs of chemical imbalances, abnormal electrolyte values, or even compromised organ health. 

Modern life–with its stresses, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of rest–makes these issues worse over time, leading to symptoms that affect you daily. Let’s explore the connection between these symptoms, your body’s chemistry, and the vital functions of some of your internal organs.

 

Subtle Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalances

Electrolytes are minerals like potassium, sodium, and calcium found in your blood and body fluids that play a crucial role in your everyday life. 

When their levels are “off,” they can lead to many different symptoms. For example, here are a few:

  • Potassium imbalances can result in:
    • Muscle aches and weakness (manifesting as abdominal pain in the muscles of the digestive tract)
    • Changes in nerve function
    • Life-threatening heart rhythms
  • Abnormal sodium levels can cause:
    • Simple thirst
    • High blood pressure
    • And in extreme cases, coma, or even…
    • Death
  • Calcium imbalances might lead to:
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle spasms
    • Bone issues
    • Heart rhythm disturbances
    • Mental changes

The question then arises: What could disrupt this balance? 

 

The Connection Between Electrolyte Imbalance and Your Liver and Kidneys

You might think by now that you simply need more electrolytes. But the real problem could be with your liver or kidneys. If they’re not working right, you can experience fatigue, abdominal pain, and muscle aches, among many other symptoms.

Your liver cleans your blood, makes important hormones and proteins, and creates bile to help digest food. If your liver has problems, it can upset your body’s electrolyte balance. High “liver enzymes” in blood tests can be a sign the liver is under stress or damaged, sometimes because of serious illnesses or certain medications.

Similarly, your kidneys act as your body’s filters. Among their many other jobs, they get rid of extra water and waste in the form of urine, while also regulating critical electrolytes. Struggling kidneys might result in abnormal levels of lab markers like creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).

It’s also worth noting that over-the-counter supplements and prescribed medications can lead to electrolyte imbalances. This underscores the importance of regularly monitoring your body’s chemistry, especially if you’re taking medications or supplements.

So how do we get to the root cause of all these symptoms? The solution is a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)…

 

Find the Secret Source of Your Symptoms with a Simple and Quick Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Through Hoag

A CMP is a blood test that checks all those vital metrics we just mentioned and more–things like electrolytes, sugar, proteins, liver enzymes, and kidney-related markers.

By identifying potential problems in organ health and electrolyte balance with a CMP, your doctor can find what’s really causing your fatigue, abdominal pain, and muscle aches, among other symptoms. Far from being just a diagnostic tool, the CMP serves as an early warning system, highlighting potential health concerns even before they turn into major issues.

Even better, the CMP is typically covered by most insurance plans when deemed medically necessary. To get yours, all you need to do is have a quick conversation with your doctor. 

Check with your insurance provider for more information. 

 

Act Now with Hoag 

As you’ve seen, imbalances in your electrolyte values and unhealthy organs can lead to various unpleasant symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and more … and can sometimes signify serious conditions. A CMP can be a valuable tool to detect these abnormalities.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with a Hoag Compass doctor today from your phone through our convenient mobile app, so any issues can be identified and treated. 

Take the first step toward health. Schedule your appointment with Hoag today.