Water-electrolyte balance in the human body. Homemade drinks to restore water-salt balance. Violation of mineral metabolism

Water balance or How to normalize metabolism?

Or rather a violationwater balanceis the cause of many diseases, including excess weight. This is already a proven medical fact.

What does water balance have to do with it?

Man is two-thirds water. And the main organs (liver and kidneys) contain more than 60 percent water.

So many people suffering overweight They believe that there is already a lot of water in their body. And indeed it is. Only this water does not accumulate where it is needed. After all, with the right water balance, the cells that make up our body are saturated with the necessary nutritional fluid and are able to burn fat.
But when cells experience water deficiency, they age very early and stop working at full capacity, spending little energy. Our thrifty body stores unspent energy for a rainy day. I think you already know in what form this energy is stored. Of course in the form of fat.

Conclusion: broken water balance makes our cells thirsty. And water accumulates in the form of fat in tissues. Dried cells don't work! After all healthy cell human body contains 50−60 percent water. What if there is less water in the cage than normal? metabolism is disturbed.

Therefore, in order to lose weight, it is enough to move fluid from the extracellular tissue and send it into the cells. And make the cells work efficiently, that is, consume a sufficient amount of energy.
For this, cells need proper nutrition: vitamins and minerals. But without water, cells will not be able to absorb all this.

But the problem is that the water we drink does not go directly into the cells. The most important thing is proper nutrition. Thus, in order to lose weight you need to eat foods rich in liquid (vegetables and fruits), as well as follow a few simple principles.

- the basis of your health! A disturbedwater balanceis the cause of excess weight and many other diseases.

How to normalize water balance?

You just need to follow a few rules.

Rule one: Rejuvenate cells, we supply them with liquid. To do this, we eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible.

Rule two: We make sure that our diet contains a lot of potassium and as little sodium as possible. We undersalt everything we cook (reduce sodium consumption) and follow rule one (fill the body with potassium).
For intracellular water balance Only two minerals are responsible - sodium and calcium. Sodium dehydrates cells, while potassium, on the contrary, supplies cells with water.

Rule three. We'll freeze a little. Let's start with cool shower twice a day. Gradually reduce the water temperature. After some time, you can start dousing yourself with cold water.
Meet thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is the conversion of energy into heat. When a person is cold, cells have to work hard to produce enough energy.

Rule four. We sleep and lose weight. A person should sleep at least seven hours a day. Eight is better. Complete rest necessary for normalization water balance.

Rule five. Porridge for breakfast. Not just any porridge, but a very liquid porridge. And not from a bag. Don’t be lazy, cook it yourself and preferably with water rather than milk. Be sure to add grated apple and nuts to the porridge. And salt and sugar are not necessary at all.
While the porridge is cooking, be sure to eat some fruit. Once again we read the first rule: the more fruit, the faster the normalization. water balance in our body.

Rule six. For lunch - celery soup.

Soup recipe to normalize water balance.

Three tomatoes, two peppers, two onions, half a small fork of cabbage and celery root. Half a teaspoon sea salt. We don't fry anything, just cook it.

Rule seven. Salad for dinner. Grate the mozzarella cheese, cut the tomatoes and spinach, pour everything apple cider vinegar. So it turned out to be an easy and very tasty dinner.

By following these rules, we can easily normalize the violated water balance

In conditions of constant training, athletes take into account many factors that influence their progress: starting from competent planning of the training process and ending with the flow into the blood from different types food. However, this is not always enough. Sometimes training is complicated by unexpected diseases, and their causes lie far beyond the boundaries of classical dietetics. This is especially true for those athletes who use fundamentally different nutrition plans, characterized by an extremely extreme deficiency of incoming microelements.

To understand why progress is often stalled by illness and feeling unwell, let's delve into the basics, namely - in water-salt balance. Consider the meaning metabolic processes for the athlete’s body and study ways to correct the water-salt balance.

Water-salt metabolism

So, what is water-salt balance and how does it affect our body? In the process of studying metabolic processes, we previously touched only on the main nutrients. We found out that protein is broken down into, and carbohydrates into simple glucose. However, our body is somewhat more complex than it might seem at first glance. Firstly, it consists of more than 60% liquid. Of this, oddly enough, blood accounts for only about 35-40% of the total volume. The remainder is primary urinary fluid.

Note: Primary urinary fluid has little in common with the urinary fluid that results from the elimination of toxic waste products from the body.

The primary urinary fluid is the main regulator, the so-called depot of breakdown products, from which they then pass into the bloodstream or are excreted with the secondary urinary fluid. Despite its small volumes, only 5-6 liters, it constantly circulates. During the day, the kidneys process about 100-150 liters of primary urinary fluid. For comparison: the metabolism of blood bodies with their constant change is only 20-25 liters per day.

What does all this have to do with water-salt balance? Everything is extremely simple. Salts are trace elements, saturated with minerals, which, circulating throughout the body, replenish the body's need for inorganic substances. One of the most important minerals on this list is sodium, which is found in the classic salt, NaCl. That is why the entire salt metabolism is named after him.

Since blood is a liquid and very unstable element of our body, sodium helps to bind individual molecules into structures that are then transported useful material and oxygen throughout the body. In particular, we see a similar structure in our liver, when, with the help of special inorganic compounds, the body processes classical glucose into, which is also bound by sodium.

In addition, do not forget that our body is not limited solely to physical activity. Salts affect the following basic processes:

Creates an electrical environment for impulse impact on our brain. In fact, the brain is a powerful electrical generator, and salts act as dielectrics that help conduct electrical impulses throughout the nervous system.
Creates a lubricant. Yet again, fatty acid, - which are then transformed into basic lubricants, must be held in joints and ligaments, which is helped by thickening with salts.
They act as regulators that, together with proteins, participate in the synthesis of acids that break down food into enzymes.
Stimulate specific organs in the body. In particular, Sodium affects fluid exchange and pumping. Phosphorus directly affects the speed of thought processes. It also acts as a focusing layer in the visual lens.

The importance of salts and minerals in the body can be enumerated endlessly. But it is worth immediately noting that during metabolic processes, salts are metabolized as follows:

some of the salts are metabolized and converted into energy when regulating the functioning of certain organs;
waste salts are metabolized along with urine and excreted from the body.

At the same time, the body strives to constantly maintain balance and processes, maintain constant blood thickness and saturate it with oxygen. It follows from this that the water-salt balance is very easy to upset.

Factors affecting the exchange of water and salts

What causes disturbed water-salt balance?

Firstly, this is the result of the body’s desire to maintain a constant blood density. During exercise, the body loses a large amount of fluid, which serves as the main thermostat. Salts are often excreted along with the liquid, as they bind this liquid into a single structure. The amount of liquid decreases, and with it the amount of salts. But when during/after training an athlete consumes new fluid, it does not always take into account the fact that incoming water does not always compensate in its own way mineral composition the amount of salts removed.

The second factor that affects the water-salt balance is the metabolic processes themselves. During the process of acceleration/deceleration, the course of metabolic processes changes. As a result, the exchange of the inorganic component of our body also changes. If metabolism is disrupted under the influence of harmful factors (excessively strict diet), then the body strives to put it in order, forcing all systems to work to the limit of their capabilities.

Let's look at simple example. Let's say a person goes on a strict no-carbohydrate diet. Because of this, the focusing power of the eye lens is weakened, resulting in poor vision. To restore vision, the body begins to release more phosphorus into the blood (from reserves), which restores vision, but phosphorus consumption increases and its levels are depleted.

And the last factor that affects the water-salt balance is drying the body before competitions. Since the main task of the athlete at this stage is to make the muscles as prominent as possible and get rid of the fat layer, he uses more water. All this leads to the fact that the amount of sodium that binds the blood in relation to total water decreases. And since the body strives to maintain a certain thickness of the blood, it removes all excess fluid along with minerals and salts that have not yet been fully used. Which leads to general exhaustion. And sodium levels directly affect the amount of blood in the body. Thus, extreme drying with weight loss reduces the amount of fluid in the body to 40-45% against the standard 60-65%. As a result, the impressive topography causes health problems.

Negative consequences

So, excessive fluid consumption during training, on the one hand, increases performance, but on the other hand, harms the body. and thermoregulation by removing excess sweat causes a pronounced water-salt imbalance.

In turn, any change towards the removal of salts can lead to:

Brain dysfunction. A lack of salts reduces the current conduction of impulses, which comprehensively disrupts the functioning of everything connected to the brain and spinal cord.
Cramps. Since the flow of fluid in the body is more free, sometimes the rush of blood into the contracting muscle can cause a “pump spasm”, which will lead to an unregulated spasm at the nervous level.
Dysfunctions of the organs of vision. Phosphorus is a lubricant for the eye lens, which regulates the thickness of the tear layer and helps focus the pupil.
Dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract. Without enough minerals, the acidity in the stomach will not have sufficient breaking down power, which will cause the body to increase it overall, which in turn will irritate the intestinal walls and can lead to erosion.
Decreased immunity.
Reduced hormone synthesis. Eg, thyroid also works on minerals and salts. And the pituitary gland, which is responsible for the synthesis of testosterone and growth hormone, directly depends on the presence of phosphorus, magnesium and zinc. If these minerals are washed away with water along with salts, you can forget about high level testosterone.

Interesting fact: Many complex testosterone stimulants are often based on three factors: nitrogen donors (the so-called Viagra pump), direct testosterone stimulators and (attention!) restoration of the mineral balance of zinc and magnesium. It is the latter factor that is considered the determining stimulant.

Oxygen poisoning

The body strives to split water into hydrogen and oxygen (actually oxygen). With intensive fluid consumption, the kidneys do not always cope with the increased load and cannot metabolize all the water into urea and blood. All this leads to the accumulation of excess oxygen in the body, which has an extremely negative effect on its condition. The air we breathe is saturated with oxygen by 20% and at the same time has a drying effect on the body. To test this hypothesis, just try breathing open mouth at a fast pace for 5-7 minutes. First of all, you will feel dry mouth. And then oxygen poisoning will lead to dizziness, sometimes even fainting.

Sodium is responsible for the regulation of oxygen in the blood and, as we said earlier, with consumption large quantity water it splits. Therefore, the incoming liquid actually breaks down into oxygen, which dries the body from the inside. The main conclusion follows from this: 8 liters of water drunk within 1-2 hours cause salt depletion, then – oxygen poisoning, and without sodium can lead to fatal consequences.

Note: To avoid such problems during training, try to consume mineral water without gas or add salt if you bring purified well water to training.

Norms for the distribution of liquids according to water exchange

Most of the salts and minerals in the body are distributed in next cells body:

57% blood vessels. Stored here the largest number sodium Periodically, it is through the blood that the body distills necessary minerals to joints, brain, eyes.
Body cells – about 30%. Excess salts and minerals accumulate here.
Primary urine – 10%.
Secondary urine – peak – up to 35%.
Intercellular space 3%.
Vascular space<1%.

The table will tell you more about which main salts and minerals regulate the functions of our body.

Restoring water-salt balance in the body

How to restore the water-salt balance in the human body? It all depends on how difficult the situation is. If this is a slight violation of the water-salt balance, it is enough to drink a course of alkaline medicinal water. If the situation is critical, only a blood transfusion will help.

Let's consider all the ways to restore water-alkaline and salt balance:

Mineral water. Helps restore short-term imbalances. For example, after a workout or during a low-carb diet.
Mineral complexes are intended for people leading an active lifestyle. They help restore the rarest elements in the salt balance and maintain them at the proper level.
Specialized diet. Helps those who struggle with their own toxins in the body. It perfectly cleanses the entire body, useful after quitting drying or for people leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Inpatient transfusion of saline solution, artificial or real blood. It is carried out in serious cases when a violation of the water-salt balance threatens death.

Mineral complexes

Considering the water-salt balance, we have repeatedly mentioned the importance of minerals in the blood. Actually minerals – these are simple components of salts. For example, salt NaCl (table salt) consists of two minerals - sodium and chlorine. And if the use of these elements in combination is preferable, then some other salts in nature are toxic, and it is better to use them as individual minerals. In this case, the body will independently compose the required amount of regulating salts that will not harm the body.

Special mineral complexes are usually sold in the form of sports supplements. If you do not want to visit sports nutrition stores, it is enough to purchase multivitamin complexes. They usually contain up to 30% of the daily dose of minerals necessary for replenishment.

Note: regardless of what mineral/vitamin complex you purchase, study the composition and instructions for use. It happens that these complexes are designed exclusively for consumption together with fatty acids in which they will dissolve. Sometimes, on the contrary, they have an alkaline structure, which creates the need to maintain the appropriate Ph in the blood.

Diet

Violation of water-salt balance is often associated with malnutrition. Remember your last diet: did it contain a lot of salt and minerals? At best, marketers developing a diet will recommend eating apples and drinking mineral water. And sometimes they don't even do that. As a result, such diets flush out all the salts from the body. Partly related to this is the magical effect of “losing twenty kilograms in half an hour, eating only cigarettes and tea.”

Such diets result in problems with hypovitaminosis and lack of minerals. What to do in this case? It is enough to consume foods with a complete mineral composition. No, this does not mean at all that you need to add 25 g of salt per kilogram of potatoes. The approach must be comprehensive.

First of all, these are vegetables. Not green ones, rich in fiber, but berries, for example, the same tomato.
Secondly, eat meat. Preferably red (or pork). Muscle tissue contains iron and other minerals and salts that are so necessary for our body.
Thirdly, fish, fish and more fish. The creatine contained in it reduces the rate of leaching of beneficial nutrients, and phosphorus will not allow you to kill your vision and brain.

Inpatient-outpatient method

Outpatient restoration of water-salt balance is extremely rare. Basically, such procedures are prescribed for poor blood clotting and serious blood loss due to injury. In extremely rare cases, athletes are taken to the hospital after the Olympia.

How is the water-salt balance restored? As a rule, the simplest droppers are used. There are two main compositions that restore water-salt balance:

A saline solution found in most injectable medications. The water and salt in its base are easily broken down in the blood and restore sodium levels, which allows you to maintain vitality in critical conditions.
Artificial blood. This term refers to a more complex mineral composition. The principle is similar to the previous treatment.
Donor blood. They resort to extreme cases when the level of minerals in the blood drops to a critical level. As a rule, transfusion is required for complex operations.

Note: “bodybuilder without skin” - Andreas Münzer, died precisely because of a violation of the water-salt balance. His blood became too thick after taking another diuretic, which made it impossible to pump it through the vessels. This thickening led to the formation of hundreds of blood clots throughout the vascular system.

Outcome

Now you know how to normalize the water-salt balance if it is disturbed. Finally, the editors want to tell the truism. It is easier not to disturb the water-salt balance than to restore it. If you are involved in competitive sports and are cutting, use mineral complexes and vitamins. If you are not a professional athlete, then limit drying exclusively to fat burning. This will allow you to maintain health, ligaments and joints.

And remember: increased protein synthesis, which is caused by the use of AAS, leads to increased waste of minerals. This is why users of various turinabols often tear ligaments during training. If you take a course in pharmacology, monitor not only the hormonal system, but also the condition of the body as a whole.

And most importantly, no matter what goals you set for yourself, do not lead them to fanaticism. Examples in the form of Andreas Münzer and many modern fitness models who died from excessive blood thickening should warn you against extreme methods of reducing your own weight.

From this article you will learn:

What is the water balance of the human body?
What are the causes of imbalance in the body's water balance?
How to recognize a violation of the body's water balance
How to understand how much water is needed to maintain the body's water balance
How to maintain a normal level of water balance in the body
How can you restore water balance in the body?
How is water imbalance in the body treated?

Everyone knows that a person is about 80% water. After all, water is the basis of blood (91%), gastric juice (98%), mucous membranes and other fluids in the human body. There is also water in our muscles (74%), about 25% in the skeleton, and, of course, it is present in the brain (82%). Therefore, water clearly affects the ability to remember, thinking and physical capabilities of a person. How to keep the body's water balance at a normal level to avoid health problems? You will learn about this from our article.

What is the body's water and electrolyte balance?

Water and electrolyte balance of the body is a set of processes of absorption and distribution of water throughout the human body and its subsequent removal.

When the water balance is normal, the amount of fluid released by the body is adequate to the incoming volume, that is, these processes are balanced. If you don’t drink enough water, the balance will turn out to be negative, which means that your metabolism will slow down significantly, your blood will become too thick and will not be able to distribute oxygen throughout the body in the required volume, your body temperature will rise and your heart rate will increase. It follows from this that the overall load on the body will be higher, but performance will decrease.

But drinking more water than you need can also be harmful. The blood will become too thin, and the cardiovascular system will receive greater stress. The concentration of gastric juice will also decrease, and this will lead to disruption of digestion processes. Excess water causes an imbalance in the water balance in the human body and forces the excretory system to work with increased load - excess fluid is excreted through sweat and urine. This not only leads to additional work for the kidneys, but also contributes to excessive loss of nutrients. All these processes ultimately disrupt the water-salt balance and significantly weaken the body.

Also, you should not drink a lot during physical activity. Your muscles will quickly get tired and you may even get cramps. You've probably noticed that athletes don't drink a lot of water during training and performances, but only rinse their mouths so as not to overload their hearts. Use this technique while jogging and training.

Why is the body’s water-electrolyte balance disrupted?

The reasons for the imbalance are improper distribution of fluid throughout the body or its large losses. As a result, there is a deficiency of microelements that are actively involved in metabolic processes.

One of the main elements is calcium, its concentration in the blood may decrease, in particular, for the following reasons:

disruptions in the functioning of the thyroid gland or its absence;
therapy with medications containing radioactive iodine.

The concentration of another equally important microelement - sodium– may decrease for the following reasons:

excess fluid consumption or its accumulation in body tissues due to various pathologies;
therapy with diuretics (especially in the absence of medical supervision);
various pathologies accompanied by increased urination (for example, diabetes);
other conditions associated with fluid loss (diarrhea, increased sweating).

Shortage potassium occurs with alcohol abuse, taking corticosteroids, as well as with a number of other pathologies, for example:

alkalization of the body;
failure of adrenal function;
liver diseases;
insulin therapy;
decreased thyroid function.

However, potassium levels may rise, which also upsets the balance.

Symptoms of water-salt imbalance in the human body

If during the day the body has spent more fluid than it has received, then this is called negative water balance or dehydration. At the same time, tissue nutrition is disturbed, brain activity decreases, immunity decreases, and you may feel unwell.

Symptoms of negative water balance:

Dry skin. The top layers also become dehydrated and microcracks form on them.
Pimples on the skin. This is due to the fact that an insufficient amount of urine is released, and the skin is more actively involved in the process of removing toxins from the body.
Urine becomes darker due to lack of fluid.
Edema. They are formed due to the fact that the body is trying to make water reserves in different tissues.
You may also feel thirsty and have dry mouth. Little saliva is secreted, there is also a coating on the tongue and bad breath.
Deterioration of brain function: the manifestation of symptoms of depression, sleep disturbances, poor concentration at work and at home.
Due to lack of moisture, joints can hurt and there is a risk of muscle spasms.
If there is not enough fluid in the body, this leads to constipation and a constant feeling of nausea.

Minerals (dissolved in water, called electrolytes) also affect the water-salt balance.

The most important are calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), compounds with chlorine, phosphorus, bicarbonates. They are responsible for the most important processes in the body.

Negative consequences for the body will occur both with insufficient amounts of water and microelements, and with excess. Your body may not have enough water if you have had vomiting, diarrhea, or heavy bleeding. Children, especially newborns, feel the most severe lack of water in their diet. They have an increased metabolism, as a result of which the concentration of electrolytes and metabolic products in the tissues can very quickly increase. If excess of these substances is not eliminated promptly, it can pose a serious health threat.

Many pathological processes in the kidneys and liver lead to fluid retention in the tissues and cause an imbalance in the water balance in the body. If a person drinks too much, then water will also accumulate. As a result, the water-salt balance is disrupted, and this, in turn, causes not only disruptions in the functioning of various organs and systems, but can also lead to more severe consequences, such as pulmonary and cerebral edema, and collapse. In this case, there is already a threat to human life.

If a patient is hospitalized, the water and electrolyte balance of his body is not analyzed. Usually, drugs with electrolytes are prescribed immediately (of course, depending on the main diagnosis and severity of the condition), and further therapy and research are based on the body’s response to these drugs.

When a person is admitted to the hospital, the following information is collected and entered into his or her chart:

information about the state of health, existing diseases. The following diagnoses indicate a violation of the water-salt balance: ulcers, gastrointestinal infections, ulcerative colitis, dehydration conditions of any origin, ascites, and so on. A salt-free diet also in this case falls into the zone of attention;
the severity of the existing disease is determined and a decision is made on how treatment will be carried out;
Blood tests are performed (according to the general scheme, for antibodies and bacterial cultures) to clarify the diagnosis and identify other possible pathologies. Usually, other laboratory tests are also carried out for this purpose.

The sooner you establish the cause of the disease, the sooner you can eliminate problems with your water-salt balance and quickly organize the necessary treatment.

Calculation of water balance in the body

The average person needs about two liters of water per day. You can accurately calculate the required volume of liquid using the formula given below. A person gets about one and a half liters from drinks, and almost a liter comes from food. Also, part of the water is formed due to the oxidation process in the body.

To calculate the amount of water you need per day, you can use the following formula: multiply 35–40 ml of water by body weight in kilograms. That is, it is enough to know your own weight to instantly calculate your individual need for water.

For example, if your weight is 75 kg, then using the formula we calculate the volume you need: multiply 75 by 40 ml (0.04 l) and get 3 liters of water. This is your daily fluid intake to maintain normal water-salt balance in the body.

Every day the human body loses a certain amount of water: it is excreted through urine (about 1.5 l), through sweat and breathing (about 1 l), through the intestines (about 0.1 l). On average this amount is 2.5 liters. But the water balance in the human body is very dependent on external conditions: ambient temperature and the amount of physical activity. Increased activity and heat cause thirst, the body itself tells you when it is necessary to replenish fluid loss.

At high air temperatures, our body heats up. And overheating can be very dangerous. Therefore, the thermoregulation mechanism is immediately activated, based on the evaporation of liquid by the skin, due to which the body cools. About the same thing happens during an illness with a high temperature. In all cases, a person needs to replenish fluid loss, take care of restoring the water-salt balance in the body by increasing water consumption.

In comfortable conditions at an air temperature of about 25 ° C, the human body secretes about 0.5 liters of sweat. But as soon as the temperature begins to rise, the secretion of sweat also increases, and each additional degree causes our glands to part with another hundred grams of liquid. As a result, for example, in 35-degree heat, the amount of sweat secreted by the skin reaches 1.5 liters. In this case, the body reminds you of the need to replenish your fluid supply with thirst.

How to maintain water balance in the body

So, we have already found out how much water a person needs to consume during the day. However, it is important in what mode the liquid enters the body. It is necessary to evenly distribute water intake during the waking period. Thanks to this, you will not provoke swelling and will not force the body to suffer from water deficiency, which will bring it maximum benefit.

How to normalize water balance in the body? Many people drink water only when thirsty. This is a big mistake. Thirst means you are already dehydrated. Even when it is very minor, it still has a big impact on the body. Remember that you should not drink a lot during breakfast, lunch and dinner, or immediately after meals. This will significantly reduce the concentration of gastric juice and worsen digestion processes.

How to restore water balance in the body?

It is best to create a water intake schedule for yourself, for example this:

One glass 30 minutes before breakfast to start the stomach working.
One and a half to two glasses a couple of hours after breakfast. It could be tea at work.
One glass 30 minutes before lunch.
One and a half to two glasses a couple of hours after lunch.
One glass 30 minutes before dinner.
One glass after dinner.
One glass before going to bed.

In addition, you can drink one glass during meals. As a result, we get the required amount of water in twenty-four hours. The proposed drinking schedule ensures a uniform supply of water to the body, which means you will not need to worry about swelling or dehydration.

To maintain a normal water-salt balance, one should not forget about the following factors:

During physical activity, a lot of salts leave the body along with sweat, so it is better to drink water with salt, soda, mineral water or water with sugar.
Increase the amount of water consumed if the ambient temperature is elevated.
Also drink more water if you are in a dry room (where radiators are very hot or the air conditioner is running).
When taking medications, consuming alcohol, caffeine, or smoking, the level of water in the body also decreases. Be sure to replenish losses with additional fluid.
Water comes not only with coffee, tea and other drinks. Eat vegetables, fruits and other foods that are high in fluids.
The body also absorbs water through the skin. Take a shower more often, lie in the bath, swim in the pool.

With a uniform supply of water, your metabolism will improve, energy will be produced constantly during the period of activity and you will not be so tired from work. Also, maintaining water balance in the body will prevent the accumulation of toxins, which means that the liver and kidneys will not be overloaded. Your skin will become more elastic and firm.

How to restore water-salt balance in the body

Excessive loss of fluid or insufficient supply of fluid for a person is fraught with failures of various systems. How to restore water-salt balance in the body? You must understand that the water deficit cannot be filled at one time, so you do not need to drink in large portions. Fluid should be supplied to the body evenly.

The state of dehydration is also accompanied by sodium deficiency, so you need to drink not just water, but various solutions with electrolytes. You can buy them at the pharmacy and simply dissolve them in water. But if dehydration is severe enough, you should immediately seek medical help. This is especially important for children; if there are any signs of dehydration in a small child, you must call an ambulance. The same applies to older people.

In case of oversaturation of tissues and organs with water, there is no need to independently restore the water-salt balance in the body. Consult your doctor to find out the problem that caused this condition. It is often a symptom of a disease and requires treatment.

What to do to avoid dehydration:

Always drink if you are thirsty. Be sure to take a water bottle of at least one liter with you.
Drink more during physical activity (an adult can drink one liter per hour, a child needs 0.15 liters). Although it should be noted that experts are not unanimous on this issue.

A person who does not drink fluids responsibly is at risk of dehydration or swelling. Do not under any circumstances disturb the water balance in the body. Carefully monitor the amount of fluid in your body.

Treatment of water-electrolyte imbalance in the human body

Restoring the water-salt balance in the body is very important for the well-being and functioning of organs. Below is a general scheme according to which the health status of patients with these problems in medical institutions is normalized.

First, you need to take measures to prevent the development of a pathological condition that poses a threat to human life. To do this, immediately liquidate:

bleeding;
hypovolemia (insufficient blood volume);
deficiency or excess of potassium.

To normalize the water-salt balance, various solutions of basic electrolytes in dosage form are used.
Measures are being taken to prevent the development of complications as a result of this therapy (in particular, with injections of sodium solutions, epileptic attacks and manifestations of heart failure are possible).
In addition to drug treatment, diet is possible.
The administration of drugs intravenously is necessarily accompanied by monitoring the level of water-salt balance, acid-base status, and hemodynamics. It is also necessary to monitor the condition of the kidneys.

If a person is prescribed intravenous administration of saline solutions, a preliminary calculation of the degree of water-electrolyte imbalance is made and, taking this data into account, a plan of therapeutic measures is drawn up. There are simple formulas based on standard and actual indicators of sodium concentration in the blood. This technique makes it possible to determine disturbances in the water balance in the human body; the calculation of fluid deficiency is carried out by a doctor.

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0 9129 1 year ago

Water-salt balance plays an important role in the normal functioning of the human body. Its violation can lead to a deterioration in a person’s well-being and the appearance of various diseases.

What is water-salt balance?

Water-salt balance is the interaction between the processes of entry and removal of salts and water into the human body, as well as their distribution in tissues and internal organs.

The basis of the human body is water, the amount of which can vary. Age, the number of fat cells and other factors determine this indicator. The comparative table shows that the body of a newborn child contains the most water. A smaller amount of water is contained in the female body, due to the replacement of fluid by fat cells.

	Body water percentage
Newborn	77
Man	61
Woman	54

Normally, a balance or equilibrium must be maintained in the volumes of fluid received and removed from the body during the day. The intake of salts and water is associated with food intake, and the excretion is associated with urine, feces, sweat and exhaled air. In numerical terms, the process looks like this:

fluid intake is the norm per day 2.5 liters (2 liters of which are water and food, the rest is due to metabolic processes in the body);
excretion – 2.5 liters (1.5 liters are excreted by the kidneys, 100 ml by the intestines, 900 ml by the lungs).

Violation of water-salt balance

The water-salt balance may be disturbed due to:

With the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the body and its slow elimination.
With water deficiency and excessive release.

Both extreme situations are extremely dangerous. In the first case, fluid accumulates in the intercellular space, causing the cells to swell. And, if nerve cells are also included in the process, then the nerve centers are excited and convulsions occur. The opposite situation provokes blood thickening, increasing the risk of blood clots and disrupting blood flow in tissues and organs. Water deficiency of more than 20% leads to death.

Changes in some indicators may occur for a number of reasons. And, if a short-term imbalance due to changes in ambient temperature, changes in the level of physical activity or diet can only slightly worsen health, then a constant water-salt imbalance is fraught with dangerous consequences.

Why can there be an excess and lack of water in the body?

Excess body water or hydration may be associated with:

with a malfunction in the hormonal system;
with a sedentary lifestyle;
with excess salt in the body.

In addition, insufficient fluid intake can also lead to excess fluid in the body. A lack of fluid intake from the outside provokes an excess of water in the tissues, which leads to edema.

Lack of water in the body is associated with insufficient fluid intake or excessive excretion. The main causes of dehydration are:

intensive training;
taking diuretics;
lack of fluid intake from food;
varied diets.

Excess and lack of fluid in the body are also directly related to the deficiency or excess of individual ions in the blood plasma.

Sodium

A deficiency or excess of sodium in the body can be true or relative. True deficiency is associated with insufficient salt intake, increased sweating, intestinal obstruction, extensive burns and other processes. Relative develops as a result of excessive introduction of aqueous solutions into the body at a rate exceeding the excretion of water by the kidneys. True excess manifests itself as a result of the introduction of saline solutions or increased consumption of table salt. The cause of the problem may also be a delay in sodium excretion by the kidneys. A relative excess occurs when the body is dehydrated.

Potassium

Potassium deficiency is associated with insufficient intake, liver pathology, corticosteroid therapy, insulin injections, surgery on the small intestine, or hypothyroidism. A decrease in potassium can also result from vomiting and loose stools, since the component is excreted in the secretions of the gastrointestinal tract. Excess potassium can result from fasting, decreased circulating blood volume, injury, or excessive administration of potassium solutions.

Magnesium

A deficiency of the element develops during fasting and a decrease in its absorption. Fistulas, diarrhea, resection of the gastrointestinal tract are also reasons for a decrease in the concentration of magnesium in the body.

Excess magnesium is associated with impaired magnesium secretion by the kidneys, increased cell breakdown in renal failure, hypothyroidism, and diabetes.

Calcium

In addition to excess or lack of water in the body, water-salt imbalance can occur as a result of equal loss of salts and water. The reason for this state of affairs can be acute poisoning, in which electrolytes and fluid are lost with diarrhea and vomiting.

Symptoms of disorders

When the water-salt balance is disturbed, a person exhibits the following symptoms:

weight loss;
dry skin, hair and cornea;
sunken eyes;
sharp facial features.

In addition, a person is worried about low blood pressure, hypofunction of the kidneys, increased and weakened pulse, chills in the extremities, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe thirst. All this leads to a deterioration in overall health and decreased performance. Progressive pathology can lead to death, so symptoms cannot be ignored.

As for the imbalance of ions in the blood, here the symptoms may be as follows:

Potassium. Deficiency of the element is manifested by intestinal obstruction and renal failure, and excess - by nausea and vomiting.
Magnesium. With an excess of magnesium, nausea occurs, reaching vomiting, increased body temperature, and a slow heart rate. A deficiency of the element is manifested by apathy and weakness.
Calcium. Deficiency is dangerous due to the manifestation of smooth muscle spasms. Excess symptoms include thirst, vomiting, stomach pain, and frequent urination.

How to restore water-salt balance in the body?

Restoration of water-salt balance can occur in the following areas:

with the help of medications;
chemical therapy;
ambulatory treatment;
dieting.

At the same time, it is quite problematic to independently determine the pathology. Therefore, for any suspicious symptoms, it is better to contact a specialist who will decide for himself how to normalize the water-salt balance.

Taking medications

The therapy consists in taking mineral and vitamin-mineral complexes containing all the elements responsible for the water-salt balance. The treatment lasts a month, then a break is made for several weeks and the restored imbalance is maintained due to another course of taking the drugs. In addition to vitamin complexes, the patient is prescribed saline solutions that retain water in the body.

Chemical method of treatment

In this case, the treatment consists in the weekly use of a special saline solution. You can purchase packages containing salts at any pharmacy. They should be taken an hour after meals. Moreover, the period between doses should not be less than one and a half hours. During therapy you need to avoid salt.

Saline solutions are very effective in reducing fluid loss in the body. They are used for poisoning and dysentery. Before using the product in order to restore the water-salt balance, you should consult with a specialist. The drug is contraindicated in:

diabetes mellitus;
renal failure;
liver diseases;
infections of the genitourinary system.

Outpatient method

Another treatment method involves hospitalization of the patient. It is applicable when continuous monitoring of the patient’s condition and the administration of water-salt solutions through droppers are necessary. The patient is also prescribed a strict drinking regime and a special diet.

Diet

Not only taking medications will restore the water-salt balance. Nutritional adjustments that involve consuming food based on its salt content can help. You need to consume up to 7 grams of salt per day. In addition, the consumption of ordinary clean water is shown at the rate of 2-3 liters per day. In this case, the specified volume includes only water. Neither juices, nor tea, nor soups are included here. You can only dilute the water with salt, regular, sea or iodized. But there are restrictions: per liter of water there should be no more than 1.5 grams of salt.

When restoring the water-salt balance, the daily diet should include foods containing the necessary microelements: potassium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, cycle. They are found in large quantities in dried fruits and apricots.

There are some restrictions on water consumption for patients whose water-salt balance is impaired as a result of heart failure. In this case, you can drink no more than one hundred milliliters of water at a time, and there is no need to add salt to it. In addition, it is necessary to take diuretics.

Restoring water-salt balance using folk remedies

Any pathology can be alleviated or cured with the help of a home first aid kit. Violation of water-salt balance is no exception. Recovery at home is as follows:

Preparation of special cocktails. The following cocktail will help replenish lost electrolytes: mix two bananas, two glasses of strawberries or watermelon pulp, the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of salt in a blender. Blend the resulting mass in a blender with a glass of ice.
Saline solution at home. To prepare it you will need: a liter of water, a tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of salt. Every 15-20 minutes you need to drink up to two tablespoons of solution. There should be 200 ml per day.
Juices, compotes. If there is no time for cooking, grapefruit and orange juices, as well as dried fruit compote, will help.

Summing up

Violation of the water-salt balance cannot be ignored. But you shouldn’t self-medicate either. A consultation with a specialist and passing the necessary tests will help you choose the right method of treatment and bring your body into shape without any problems.

The water-salt balance in a person is a natural indicator of his health. With its help, control over the functioning of all systems and internal organs is carried out.

If this balance is disturbed and not restored for a sufficiently long period of time, functional and physiological pathologies begin to develop in the body, including oncological tumor diseases.

The normal balance of fluid and salt in the body ranges from 60% to 65% water in a middle-aged adult. In a child, the upper limit is about 10% higher, but during the aging period, water can be only 50% of the main indicator in kg of body weight.

When the body loses up to 5% of moisture, a person simply experiences intense thirst, general lethargy, and his working capacity decreases. When up to 15% of moisture leaves the body, disturbances in various metabolic processes begin. Complete dehydration, that is, when the body loses up to 25% of fluid, can be fatal.

When the water-salt balance is disturbed, that is, the body is partially or completely dehydrated, the blood begins to thicken, metabolism deteriorates and begins the development of hypertension (increased blood pressure), hypotension (decreased blood pressure), and vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Disturbances in water-salt balance can be identified by certain signs:

The appearance of edema (that is, accumulation of fluid in the intercellular space);
A decrease in blood pressure or, conversely, an increase;
Acid-base imbalance in the human body.

The program to restore the balance of water and salt in the body is directly dependent on the causes and conditions that caused the pathological changes. Therefore, the doctor draws it up and makes prescriptions in each individual case.

But, of course, there are also general methods that are suitable in cases where the imbalance is detected at an early stage and is not associated with serious pathologies of internal organs and systems.

The first method is to drink at least two liters of water per day. To accurately calculate the volume of water required for consumption, you need to apply a proportion: for each kg of body weight there should be 30 ml of liquid. The water should be mineral, without gas and various additives (dyes, sugars, etc.). In some cases, the doctor may prescribe the use of slightly salted mineral water (0.5% saline solution).
The second method is to eat sea salt, and ideally iodized salt. You can add iodine to rock salt yourself. Sea salt is characterized by containing up to 80% of various beneficial minerals. All of them are necessary for the full functioning of the human body. To get enough of them, a portion of salt should be calculated using the formula: 1.5 g of salt for each liter of liquid consumed.
Another technique is the correct combination of the necessary micro and macroelements: potassium, selenium, calcium. Take, for example, potassium - it is found in dried fruits (dried apricots, prunes, peaches) and cherry juice. When, for one reason or another, it is not possible to select all the necessary products with these minerals, then you can start taking a pharmacological vitamin-mineral complex.
When eliminating salt imbalance in the body, it is very important to monitor and control the process of urination. The fact is that the volume of urine excreted must correspond, at least approximately, to the volume of liquid drunk. With proper internal processes, urine should also be light yellow in color and odorless.
In cases where dehydration of the body has occurred due to one of the types of failure (renal or cardiac), liquid must be consumed during the day in small dosages, no more than 100 ml at a time. And in the first three recovery courses, it is very important to completely eliminate salt from your diet. As soon as the swelling goes away (the main symptom of salt imbalance), you can increase the one-time volume of water and add to it. In this case, medications with a diuretic effect will not be a hindrance, but only if they are prescribed by the attending physician. And immediately after the negative symptoms have decreased, the medications can be discontinued, or their dosage can be reduced.
Movement is important to restore salt balance. Light morning exercises and exercises during the day and evening will help the body cope with this disease faster.
In case of severe symptoms due to salt imbalance, hospitalization of the patient is necessary. And depending on what type of disturbance has occurred in the body (what is missing - liquid or salt), solutions of glucose, sodium chloride or, if plasma loss is observed, then plasma itself or its substitutes will be prescribed intravenously.
In infancy, the body requires more water than in an adult. Therefore, in case of water-salt imbalance in a child, Pedialyt or Oralit (water-soluble tablets) can be used.

With a properly designed medical program and its implementation, the water-salt balance will very quickly return to normal, and at the same time, blood pressure and general well-being will normalize.

Gymnastics to eliminate salt imbalance

To cure and eliminate salt imbalance from the body, of course, a doctor’s prescription is required, which will consist of taking certain medications and dietary nutrition. But, as an addition to these prescriptions and a good help in eliminating imbalances, gymnastics, consisting of specially selected exercises, can be a good help.

Attention in gymnastics, as a rule, is focused on the spinal column. It is very important that the spine is flexible and mobile. If this is not the case, then the condition will be aggravated by a painful syndrome with any, even the smallest movement.

Each exercise in therapeutic gymnastics is performed at least five times in a row. You can gradually “increase” the load and perform exercises with dumbbells in your hands or sandbags (no more than 1 kg in each hand).

You can always find out a set of exercises from your doctor or in the physiotherapy room at your local clinic.