[citation needed] Examples of electrolytes include calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium.

Electrolyte disturbances are involved in many disease processes and are an important part of patient management in medicine.

[1][2] The causes, severity, treatment, and outcomes of these disturbances can differ greatly depending on the implicated electrolyte.

The kidney is the most important organ in maintaining appropriate fluid and electrolyte balance, but other factors such as hormonal changes and physiological stress play a role.

[citation needed] Chronic laxative abuse or severe diarrhea or vomiting can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

[3] The most common causes of hypercalcemia are certain types of cancer, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, excessive ingestion of vitamin D, sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis.

[3] The predominant symptoms of hypercalcemia are abdominal pain, constipation, extreme thirst, excessive urination, kidney stones, nausea and vomiting.

[3][14] In severe cases where the calcium concentration is >14 mg/dL, individuals may experience confusion, altered mental status, coma, and seizure.

[19] Chloride is part of gastric acid (HCl), which plays a role in absorption of electrolytes, activating enzymes, and killing bacteria.

[21] Hypochloremia, or low chloride levels, are commonly associated with gastrointestinal (e.g., vomiting) and kidney (e.g., diuretics) losses.

[citation needed] Hypermagnesemia, or abnormally high levels of magnesium in the blood, is relatively rare in individuals with normal kidney function.

Severe symptoms include paralysis, respiratory failure, and bradycardia progressing to cardiac arrest.

[citation needed] If kidney function is normal, stopping the source of magnesium intake is sufficient.

[citation needed] Hypomagnesemia, or low magnesium levels in the blood, can occur in up to 12% of hospitalized patients.

[citation needed] The first step in treatment is determining whether the deficiency is caused by a gastrointestinal or kidney problem.

[citation needed] Potassium resides mainly inside the cells of the body, so its concentration in the blood can range anywhere from 3.5 mEq/L to 5 mEq/L.

[3] The most common cause of hyperkalemia is lab error due to potassium released as blood cells from the sample break down.

[3] Part of the danger of hyperkalemia is that it is often asymptomatic, and only detected during normal lab work done by primary care physicians.

[3] Patients with severe hyperkalemia, defined by levels above 7 mEq/L, may experience muscle cramps, numbness, tingling, absence of reflexes, and paralysis.

[27] Common symptoms are dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, increased thirst, and excess urination.

[3][27] The final step in treatment is to calculate the patients free water deficit, and to replace it at a steady rate using a combination of oral or IV fluids.

[3] This relatively common electrolyte disorder can indicate the presence of a disease process, but in the hospital setting is more often due to administration of Hypotonic fluids.

[3] Common causes in pediatric patients may be diarrheal illness, frequent feedings with dilute formula, water intoxication via excessive consumption, and enemas.

[3] Pseudohyponatremia is a false low sodium reading that can be caused by high levels of fats or proteins in the blood.

[14][3] Dilutional hyponatremia can happen in diabetics as high glucose levels pull water into the blood stream causing the sodium concentration to be lower.

[3] General symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, confusion, agitation, and weakness.

[14][3] More concerning symptoms involve the central nervous system and include seizures, coma, and death due to brain herniation.

[3] Considerations for treatment include symptom severity, time to onset, volume status, underlying cause, and sodium levels.

[14] In non-emergent situations, it is important to correct the sodium slowly to minimize risk of osmotic demyelination syndrome.

Good sources of phosphorus includes baking powder, instant pudding, cottonseed meal, hemp seeds, fortified beverages, dried whey.