What Happens to Your Body When Your Electrolytes Are Low (2025)

Electrolytes regulate many body functions, including water balance, waste removal, and blood pressure. When you're low on certain electrolytes, you may experience adverse symptoms such as a headache, fatigue, dehydration, or mental confusion.

The body's main electrolytes are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium. Symptoms of low electrolytes vary depending on their levels, and some are more serious than others.

1. Headache

When the body is low in electrolytes, it responds to the imbalance, often leading to symptoms. A chronic headache could indicate low sodium levels (hyponatremia).

Sodium is essential for balancing the amount of fluid in the body. When sodium is too low, water moves into the cells, causing them to swell. A headache is often the first sign when brain cells become swollen. Other signs may include confusion, irritability, fatigue, and seizures.

2. Confusion

Several electrolytes, including magnesium, phosphate, and sodium, are essential fornervous system functioning. These electrolytes allow the nerves to send messages and affect brain function. When the body does not have enough electrolytes, you may experience cognitive symptoms like confusion or restlessness.

Low sodium leads to confusion, headaches, irritability, and even seizures. Low levels of phosphate may also lead to confusion, weakness, and seizures.

3. Fatigue

When electrolyte levels are too low, the body cannot function normally, leading to fatigue. Low sodium levels cause fatigue and headaches; low magnesium, phosphate, and potassium levels may also cause fatigue.

4. Thirst

When these electrolytes are out of balance, the body may not have enough fluid, leading to increased thirst. Electrolytes balance fluid by controlling the body’s pH level or acid-base balance. Low levels of chloride or sodium may lead to thirst.

5. Dry Skin

Dehydration often leads to an imbalance of electrolytes. When a person is dehydrated, their body does not have enough water to function properly. This leads to several symptoms, including dry skin. Dry skin can easily become itchy and irritated.

6. Muscle Contractions and Weakness

The body needs calcium and magnesium to control muscle movement. When one of these electrolytes is low, it is common to experience a lack of muscle control and weakness. People with low electrolytes may also experience muscle spasms or cramps.

7. Irregular Heartbeat

The body needs sufficient calcium, magnesium, and potassium to support the heart. When these electrolyte levels are low, the heart cannot beat efficiently, and the heart rate may be too fast, slow, or irregular. An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) may feel like your heart is skipping a beat.

8. Dizziness

Feeling dizzy or lightheaded could indicate low chloride, magnesium, potassium, or sodium levels. Magnesium controls blood pressure, andlow blood pressurecan cause dizziness and fainting. Dehydration may also cause dizziness.

9. Cramps

Muscle cramps are a common sign of low electrolytes. People with low magnesium, calcium, and potassium levels may notice muscle cramps, aches, or spasms. Even a small dip in potassium levels can cause painful muscle cramps.

10. Loss of Appetite

Electrolytes help the digestive system function properly. People with low electrolyte levels may experience decreased orloss of appetite. This is harmful because not eating could lead to dehydration and even lower electrolyte levels.

11. Constipation

Low calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels could cause muscle weakness and chronic constipation. This affects the muscles in the digestive tract and slows down digestion and gastric motility. Slower digestion raises the risk of constipation.

12. Nausea and Vomiting

Low sodium levels may cause nausea and vomiting. Sodium controls fluid balance and nervous system function. Prolonged vomiting may cause dehydration and low levels of other electrolytes.

13. Medical Conditions

Low electrolyte levels can lead to several chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, kidney disease, and seizures. Electrolyte levels usually need to be significantly low to cause serious medical conditions. Early signs of low electrolytes include mild symptoms like headaches and muscle cramps.

14. Seizures

Very low levels of calcium and sodium can cause seizures. This complication of low electrolytes is more common in infants and children. A seizure is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. Early signs of low calcium include muscle spasms and cramping. Early signs of low sodium include headaches, fatigue, irritability, confusion, and restlessness.

15. Coma

When an electrolyte imbalance is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications like a coma (a state of unconsciousness). Low sodium levels affect brain cells, and several cognitive symptoms can occur. When the sodium level is not corrected, a person may experience a coma. Other serious complications of low electrolytes include seizures and heart attacks.

What Causes Electrolyte Imbalances?

There are several possible causes of electrolyte imbalances. Our bodies receive electrolytes through the foods and drinks we consume. Possible causes of electrolyte imbalance include:

• Not consuming enough food
• Drinking too much or too little water
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Use of water pills (diuretics)

Health conditions that may cause electrolyte imbalances include:

• Congestive heart failure (when the heart does not function properly)
• Thyroid disease
• Lung disease
• Kidney disease
• Cancer
• Cirrhosis (chronic liver damage)
• Sepsis (when a localized infection moves into the bloodstream)
• Alcohol use disorder
• Eating disorders
  

What to Do If You Think You’re Low on Electrolytes

See a primary healthcare provider if you believe you may have low electrolyte levels. Your provider can diagnose an electrolyte imbalance with a simple blood test. They will also likely perform a physical exam and medical history and recommend an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to look for an irregular heart rhythm.

Treatments for low electrolyte levels include:

• Diet changes
• Electrolyte supplements
• Electrolyte drinks
• Electrolyte replacement therapy with medications or intravenous (IV) treatment

If a medical condition causes your electrolyte imbalance, your provider will work with you to develop a treatment plan. Treating the underlying condition will improve your electrolyte balance.

Summary

Electrolytes are essential minerals that affect every body system. An imbalance occurs when the body has too many or too few of a specific electrolyte, such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium. Even a slight imbalance can cause serious symptoms.

Signs of low electrolytes may include headaches, increased thirst, decreased appetite, muscle cramps, and weakness. More severe symptoms include an irregular heartbeat, confusion,seizures, and coma. Fortunately, electrolyte imbalances are treatable. See a healthcare provider if you are concerned about your electrolyte levels.