What are electrolyte disorders?
Electrolytes—like sodium, potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate—are minerals in your blood that help your nerves, muscles, heart, and brain work properly. Kidney problems, medications, and other conditions can cause these levels to be too high or too low.

Common causes
- Kidney disease or acute kidney injury
- Dehydration or fluid overload
- Certain blood pressure or heart medications
- Hormone problems (like adrenal or parathyroid disorders)
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or poor intake

Symptoms to watch for
- Weakness or muscle cramps
- Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
- Confusion, irritability, or trouble concentrating
- Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
- Seizures (in severe cases)

How we diagnose electrolyte disorders
At Total Kidney, we:
- Check blood tests for sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus
- Review your medications and supplements
- Assess your fluid status and blood pressure
- Order additional tests when needed to find the underlying cause

How Total Kidney treats electrolyte disorders
Treatment depends on which electrolyte is affected and how severe it is:
- Adjusting medications or doses
- IV or oral fluids
- Supplements or medicines to raise or lower specific electrolytes
- Dialysis in severe cases related to kidney failure

Ongoing management
We help you:
- Understand your lab results
- Learn which foods or medicines affect your levels
- Create a plan to keep your electrolytes in a safe range

Our goal is to keep your heart, muscles, and brain functioning well while protecting your kidneys.