(renal) excretion and reabsorption.
Many hormones affect this balance of sodium by controlling the
excretion through the kidneys (e.g., aldosterone, ADH, NH, etc.)
Low sodium levels create hyponatremia (low sodium), which can create
weakness, confusion, coma and death. Too much sodium (hypernatremia)
creates thirst, dry mucus membranes, convulsions, restlessness, etc. Many
drugs can create both hypo- and hypernatremia, including antibiotics,
steroids, laxatives, diuretics, sulfides, heart medications, etc.
Cancer will also decrease sodium levels. The body will use any alkaline
component in it to fight acidosis. Sodium has a strong affinity for oxygen and
is a vital inorganic metal in maintaining electrolyte balance.
POTASSIUM — Potassium is one of the major cations within the cell. There
is almost forty times more potassium in a cell as opposed to the fluid that
surrounds a cell. Potassium is affected by sodium reabsorption by the
kidneys. Aldosterone lowers potassium by increasing kidney excretion. Your
body always seeks to maintain the acid-based balance within it. Acidosis pulls
potassium out of a cell, causing electromagnetic changes which affect cell
wall permeability of nutrients and the electro-potentiality of a cell. Symptoms
of elevated blood potassium (hyperkalemia) include nausea, vomiting,
irritability, diarrhea, depressed electrical depolarization of the heart, muscle
contractility, (S.O.B., chest pain, etc.) and acidosis. Low serum levels
(hypokalemia) include a decrease in the contractility of smooth, skeletal and
cardiac muscles, which can cause a host of symptoms including pain,
paralysis, general weakness, and cardiac arrhythmias.