Health guide
Electrolytes test: what sodium, potassium and chloride mean
Electrolytes are minerals (chiefly sodium, potassium, and chloride) that carry an electrical charge and keep your body running: they control fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle function, including your heartbeat. Your body holds them in a narrow range, so an imbalance can matter quickly. Electrolytes are usually checked alongside kidney function.
Reviewed by Dr. Vishal Singh, Lab Director
When electrolytes are checked
- Muscle weakness or cramps
- Palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
- Confusion, dizziness, or unusual drowsiness
- Taking water pills (diuretics) or blood-pressure medicines
- After vomiting, diarrhoea, or dehydration
- Monitoring kidney disease
What sodium and potassium tell you
Sodium largely reflects your body's water balance. Potassium is critical for a steady heartbeat, and both a high and a low potassium can be dangerous, so doctors act on abnormal values promptly. Chloride generally moves with sodium. Together they show how well your fluids and salts are balanced.
Common causes of an imbalance
Dehydration, vomiting or diarrhoea, kidney problems, certain medicines (especially diuretics), and some hormonal conditions can all shift electrolytes. Because the kidneys regulate them, an electrolytes result is best read together with kidney function and a list of your current medicines.
This guide is for general information and is not a diagnosis. Always discuss your symptoms and results with a doctor. LabONE includes a free doctor consultation with every report.
Tests that help
Recommended panel
KidneyShield
8 parameters in one panel
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal potassium level?
Potassium is usually around 3.5-5.0 mmol/L, but the exact range is on your report. Because potassium affects heart rhythm, any markedly high or low value should be reviewed by a doctor quickly.
Do I need to fast for an electrolytes test?
Fasting is not usually required, but if it is part of a full body checkup with a lipid or sugar test, follow the fasting advice for those.
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