Pain Medicine & Palliative Care: Palliative Care
Electrolytes include salts, such as sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.
A laboratory test to analyze the amounts of these substances present in the body
is used to check organ function. Since mainly the kidneys control the amount of
sodium, potassium, and chloride in the blood, low or high levels may indicate
kidney function abnormalities.
Other electrolyte tests may include analysis of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine,
and glucose (sugar) levels. Urea and creatinine are waste products from the
liver and muscles, respectively. High levels of urea and creatinine may also
indicate problems with kidney function or other disease. Glucose levels too
high or too low may sometimes indicate problems with insulin regulation in the
blood.
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