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Tag: Electrolyte imbalance

Explore our comprehensive collection of health articles in this category.

What Does It Mean If Electrolytes Taste Sweet or Salty?

4 min read
According to anecdotal evidence, taste perception can be significantly altered by dehydration, which can make a beverage seem saltier or sweeter than usual. The reasons for this shift, and what it means if electrolytes taste sweet or salty, involve a complex interplay of your body's hydration status, mineral balance, and the drink's ingredients.

How Do You Calculate Potassium Deficit? A Comprehensive Guide

2 min read
An estimated 98% of the body's total potassium is stored inside cells, meaning serum potassium levels can be a poor indicator of true total body stores. Understanding how to calculate potassium deficit is therefore an essential clinical skill that requires considering more than just a blood test.

Do Vodka Seltzers Hydrate You? The Truth Behind the Bubbles

5 min read
According to a 2024 WebMD report, no alcoholic beverage, including hard seltzers, is a good choice for hydration because alcohol is a diuretic and causes fluid loss. So, while a vodka seltzer might feel refreshing, it will not, in fact, hydrate you, and relying on it for hydration is a common misconception.

Can Drinking Too Much Water Affect Protein Levels?

4 min read
According to the Cleveland Clinic, hypoalbuminemia, or low albumin, is a common electrolyte imbalance found in hospitalized patients. This condition raises the question: can drinking too much water affect protein levels? In short, yes, excessive water intake can temporarily lower the concentration of proteins in your blood through a process called hemodilution, although this is rare in healthy individuals.

Why do I crave salty instead of sweet? Understanding your body's signals

4 min read
According to research, humans are biologically hardwired to crave salt because it was a scarce and necessary nutrient for our survival in the wild. Today, if you find yourself asking, 'Why do I crave salty instead of sweet?', the reasons are more complex and often tied to underlying physiological and psychological factors.

Is Low Sodium Worse Than High Sodium? Understanding the Risks

3 min read
According to research published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, both abnormally high and abnormally low serum sodium levels were independently associated with higher mortality rates in critically ill patients. The question of whether low sodium is worse than high sodium is complex, as both conditions can be dangerous depending on the severity and underlying causes. For healthy individuals, the risks are typically manageable, but for those with underlying health conditions, any imbalance can be life-threatening.

What Happens When You Drink a Ton of Water?

4 min read
According to Healthline, a healthy adult's kidneys can eliminate about one liter of water per hour. But what happens when you drink a ton of water and exceed this limit? Overconsumption can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as water intoxication or hyponatremia, where the body's sodium levels become dangerously diluted.