Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential minerals found in your blood, urine, and other bodily fluids that carry an electric charge. They are crucial for a myriad of bodily functions. Key electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate. Each plays a vital role: sodium helps control fluids in the body, affecting blood pressure; potassium is key for nerve and muscle function, including the heart; calcium is essential for bone health and plays a role in muscle and nerve function as well as blood clotting; magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation; chloride helps maintain a normal balance of body fluids and is essential for digestion; bicarbonate helps maintain the body's acid-base balance (pH); and phosphate is important for bone health, energy storage, and nerve function.
Testing electrolyte levels in the blood is important because it helps diagnose and monitor a variety of conditions. Abnormal electrolyte levels can be a sign of dehydration, kidney disease, heart problems, and other health issues. For instance, high sodium levels might indicate dehydration or a kidney problem, while low potassium could be a sign of a condition such as hypokalemia, which can affect heart rhythm. Regular electrolyte testing is particularly important for those with chronic illnesses, those taking certain medications (like diuretics or heart medications), and athletes who may be at risk of electrolyte imbalances due to excessive sweating. By monitoring these levels, healthcare providers can identify problems early on and intervene appropriately to maintain health and prevent more serious complications.
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Biomarkers included in this panel:
Our body chemistry consists of a never-ending cascade of molecules reacting with one another to make more complex molecules. A few are commonly familiar: sodium, potassium, and chloride. These can be further classified by their electrical charge. Sod
Learn moreCalcium is an important mineral found throughout the body. It is important for bone health, cell communication, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and nerve cell function. Ionized serum calcium is the biologically active form of calcium in the blood
Learn moreAlong with calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride, magnesium is one of the six essential minerals required by the human body in significant quantities. Involved in more than 300 enzyme reactions in the body, magnesium is necessary for b
Learn moreOsmolality
Osmolality measures the concentration of dissolved particles in a fluid, such as blood, urine, or stool, providing insights into the body’s water balance and kidney function. The osmolality test evaluates the concentration of key substances lik
Learn moreZinc is a primary nutrient that we need to thrive. It’s used in a variety of functions through the body including wound healing and creation of DNA. In North America, zinc deficiencies are rare and an unusually high level of zinc in the blood u
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