Lab Corner: Electrolytes
Functional blood chemistry is different than the pathological view of blood. With Functional Blood Chemistry the body is viewed as a dynamic complex interconnected system. We emphasize finding areas of imbalance or dysfunction in a patients normal physiology. Diagnosis integrates data from many systems and methods.
Treatment then consists of finding underlying causes of dysfunction. The goal will be to give proper supplementation to achieve optimal physiological function.
There are many examples one could give on Functional Blood Chemistry. One simple to understand is electrolytes. To see if a patient has a good electrolyte balance We look at Sodium, Chloride and CO2. When we add both Chloride and CO2 and subtract it from Sodium it should optimally be 9-18. If it is outside of that range we know our electrolytes are not balanced.
Signs of an electrolyte imbalance can be:
Muscle aches, spasms, twitches and weakness
Restlessness
Anxiety
Frequent headaches
Feeling very thirsty
Insomnia
Fever
Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats
Digestive issues like cramps, constipation or diarrhea
Confusion and trouble concentrating
Bone disorders
Blood pressure changes
Changes in appetite or body weight
Fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome)
Numbness and pain in joints
Dizziness, especially when standing up suddenly.
These symptoms can of course be for other reasons but with Functional Blood Chemistry we have a great toll to get to the root cause of health problems.
