Electrolytes: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

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Electrolytes

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Calcium - ionized

Chloride test - blood

Radioactive iodine uptake

Serum magnesium - test

Serum phosphorus

Sweat electrolytes test

Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge.

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Information

It is important to keep a balance of electrolytes in your body, because they affect the amount of water in your body, blood acidity (pH), muscle action, and other important processes. You lose electrolytes when you sweat, and you must replace them by drinking fluids.

Electrolytes exist in the blood as acids, bases, and salts (such as sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, and bicarbonate). They can be measured by laboratory studies of the blood.

Alternative Names

Serum chemistries

Update Date: 8/10/2009

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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