⚡️ Electrolyte Profile – Sodium, Potassium & Chloride

1. 🧂 Sodium (Na⁺)

• ✅ Fasting: Recommended (8–10 hours preferred for accuracy)
• 🎯 Organ/System: Kidneys, Brain, Adrenal glands
• 📊 Measures: The primary extracellular electrolyte; helps control fluid balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contractions
• 📈 High Sodium (Hypernatremia):
  • Dehydration, diabetes insipidus, Cushing's syndrome
• 📉 Low Sodium (Hyponatremia):
  • SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH), heart failure, kidney disease, water intoxication
• ✅ Normal Range: 135–145 mEq/L
• 🩺 Symptoms of imbalance: Confusion, seizures, lethargy, coma (especially if sudden)

2. 🍌 Potassium (K⁺)

• ✅ Fasting: Yes (especially if on diuretics or heart meds)
• 🎯 Organ/System: Kidneys, Heart, Muscles
• 📊 Measures: The major intracellular electrolyte; regulates heart rhythm, muscle contraction, and nerve signals
• 📈 High Potassium (Hyperkalemia):
  • Kidney failure, Addison’s disease, certain medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs)
• 📉 Low Potassium (Hypokalemia):
  • Diuretics, vomiting, diarrhea, insulin therapy
• ✅ Normal Range: 3.5–5.1 mEq/L
• 🩺 Critical: Both high and low potassium can cause arrhythmias and cardiac arrest

3. 🧪 Chloride (Cl⁻)

• ✅ Fasting: Preferred
• 🎯 Organ/System: Kidneys, GI tract, Acid-base buffer systems
• 📊 Measures: The main anion in extracellular fluid; helps maintain electrical neutrality, acid-base balance, and fluid levels
• 📈 High Chloride (Hyperchloremia):
  • Dehydration, kidney dysfunction, metabolic acidosis
• 📉 Low Chloride (Hypochloremia):
  • Vomiting, excessive sweating, SIADH, metabolic alkalosis
• ✅ Normal Range: 96–106 mEq/L
• 🩺 Often interpreted with: Sodium and bicarbonate for full acid-base status

🔍 Summary Table

🔄 When Is This Profile Ordered?

Electrolyte testing is commonly ordered:

• For routine health checkups
• When symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, confusion, or vomiting
• In patients on diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or chemotherapy
• To monitor kidney disease, dehydration, and acid-base balance

🧪 Recommended Tests to Run Alongside Electrolytes