March/April 2002
Page 5
Fluids And Electrolytes . . . . Your Body's Power Source
By Gener Galindo, in Ostomy Observations, a publication of Nu-Hope Labs., Inc. Pacoima, CA
Just as your car's battery needs charging with water and electric force, your body demands the same. In fact, both you and your body just won't run without the proper balance of this vital power combination.
Body fluid balance is particularly critical to people with urinary diversions or gastrointestinal stomas. That's because the needed surgical changes and the required compensations in body functions may accelerate changes in fluid balance and accentuate the impact of the imbalance on the ostomate's total body health.
Year-round awareness!
Maintaining proper body fluid balance is important to everyone. It applies to well-conditioned athletes engaged in rigorous competition and to more sedentary workers involved in demanding physical or mental activities or environments. It applies to females just as much as it does to males. It isn't seasonal. Extremely hot and humid summer weather stresses its need. But winter's weary physical attrition and draining illnesses create equally serious body fluid imbalances. Regulation of bodily fluid balance is the year-round business of everyone.
Why are electrolytes so important?
Electrolytes are basic life substances that dissolve in water and conduct your vital body electricity. These charged ions are positive cat-ions (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) or negative anions (bicarbonate, chloride, phosphate, sulfate, organic acids, and protein compounds). Electrolytes are related to the body's water distribution, absorption, diffusion, acid-base balance, and nerve and muscle reaction. The presence and balance of these Electrolytes determine just how well or poorly our body's entire system performs its complex vital functions.
What causes body fluid and electrolyte deficiency?
The most common causes are (1) severe or extended illness involving high fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, (2) long periods of extremely hot weather and perspiration, (3) extraordinary physical exercise or work activity, and (4) extreme changes in diet or reduced fluid intake. Your body will release large amounts of body fluid through your skin, lungs, and kidneys when elevated temperatures occur. This is a natural response as a safety valve to relieve an overheated system. In the process you not only deplete normal body fluid content but also dissipate its natural balance of electrolytes and body chemistry.
What does body fluid and electrolyte deficiency do to you?
A very wide and differing combination of nervous and muscular disorders may occur depending both on the degree or extent of the electrolyte deficiency or whether the fluid imbalance is a deficit or an excess condition. The nature of the fluid shift within your body is also a factor. The impact can vary from small to great, from tremors to convulsions, from diarrhea to constipation, from fatigue to paralysis, from slow to rapid breathing, from low pulse rate to cardiac arrest. None of these conditions is likely to happen to you. But the important thing is that with any measurable default in your electrolyte levels or your body fluid balance you just are not going to feel like your normal self. You may feel lazy, indifferent, have a tingling sensation in your fingers, or just generally feel out of sorts. But you need not if you keep your body battery balanced with fluids and electrolyte content.
What is the solution?
The obvious solution is the intake of greater amounts of water and at the same time a much greater than average intake of vital electrolytes. The average person with a reasonably good diet regime may get sufficient electrolyte and fluid input for his everyday energy replenishment but after severe body stress will require an increased electrolyte supplement to the extra intake that the body is demanding. For ostomates, particularly those with urinary diversions or gastrointestinal stomas, it is probably beneficial to supplement your electrolyte intake not only in these special periods of body stress but also to consider a reasonable regular electrolyte supplement to your normal diet.
When serious illness or surgery is the cause of body fluid/electrolyte imbalance, the physician will recommend a restorative program. But for the more common occurrences related to weather, minor illness, overwork, or exercise, there are simple home remedies you can apply. Orange juice and bananas can add potassium and vitamin C. Bouillon or canned soups will boost sodium.
The important thing to remember is, don't let your body battery run low on fluid and electric force. Maintain a proper body fluid and electrolyte balance and take restorative action whenever heavy physical work, play, illness, or weather diminishes your fuel supply!
Via Los Angeles Ostomy News May/June 1999, Via OAB Bulletin, March 2001, via Inside Out On-line Mar/Apr 2002.
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