Its major consequences are water retention, hypertension, and edema. Along with sodium, it produces the resting membrane potentials and action potentials of nerve and muscle cells. Potassium homeostasis is closely linked to that of sodium. Hyperkalemia can result from aldosterone deficiency, renal failure, or acidosis, and sometimes follows blood transfusions. Potassium tends to leak from erythrocytes into the plasma of donated blood during storage.
Hyperkalemia is a very dangerous condition that can quickly produce cardiac arrest.
Hypokalemia seldom results from dietary deficiency. It more often results from heavy sweating, chromic vomiting or diarrhea, excessive use of laxatives, aldosterone hypersecretion, or alkalosis. Hypokalemia is reflected in muscle weakness, loss of muscle tone, depressed reflexes, and irregular electrical activity of the heart Chloride Chloride ions are the most abundant anions of the ECF and thus make a major contribution to its osmolarity. Chloride ions are regulated passively with sodium Calcium Calcium lends strength to the skeleton, activates the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction, serves as a second messenger for some hormones and neurotransmitters, activates exocytosis of neurotransmitters and other cellular secretions, and is essential factor in blood clotting. Hypocalcemia can result from vitamin D deficiency, diarrhea, pregnancy, lactation, acidosis, and certain thyroid conditions.