What causes elevated serum chloride levels?
Elevated chloride levels in blood work may be caused by bromide poisoning, diarrhea or certain medications used to treat glaucoma, according to MedlinePlus. High levels of sodium in the blood, kidney problems and diabetes insipidus may also contribute to high chloride levels, states Chemocare.com. A normal chloride level ranges from 96 to 106 ...
What does too much chloride do to your body?
Hyperchloremia is an electrolyte imbalance that occurs when there’s too much chloride in the blood. Chloride is an important electrolyte that is responsible for maintaining the acid-base (pH) balance in your body, regulating fluids, and transmitting nerve impulses.
What happens if chloride is high in body?
High levels of chloride may indicate: Dehydration. Kidney disease. Acidosis, a condition in which you have too much acid in your blood. Which blood test shows dehydration?
What are the symptoms of high chloride?
These symptoms may include:
- fatigue.
- muscle weakness.
- excessive thirst.
- dry mucous membranes.
- high blood pressure.
What can cause chloride levels to be high?
What causes hyperchloremia?intake of too much saline solution while in the hospital, such as during a surgery.severe diarrhea.chronic or acute kidney disease.ingestion of salt water.extremely high ingestion of dietary salt.bromide poisoning, from bromide-containing drugs.More items...
What are the symptoms of high chloride?
Symptomsfluid retention.high blood pressure.muscle weakness, spasms, or twitches.irregular heart rate.confusion, difficulty concentrating, and personality changes.numbness or tingling.seizures and convulsions.
What happens if your chloride is too high?
Chloride levels above 106 could point to kidney problems, such as renal tubular acidosis (when your kidneys aren't removing enough acids from your blood and into your urine). Low levels have several other possible causes, including common, temporary problems such as vomiting and dehydration.
What does a chloride level of 110 mean?
High chloride levels (>106-110 mEq/L) are known as hyperchloremia. Long-term or severe hyperchloremia can have the following symptoms from dehydration and metabolic acidosis (low blood pH) [1, 2]: Diarrhea. Vomiting. Headache.
Should I be concerned if my chloride is high?
High levels of chloride may be a sign of: Dehydration. Kidney disease. Metabolic acidosis, a condition in which you have too much acid in your blood.
What foods are high in chloride?
Foods with higher amounts of chloride include seaweed, rye, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, and olives. Chloride, combined with potassium, is also found in many foods. Potassium chloride is a common salt substitute. Most Americans probably get more chloride than they need from table salt and the salt in prepared foods.
What is a normal chloride level for a woman?
A typical normal range is 96 to 106 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 96 to 106 millimoles per liter (millimol/L).
Can drinking too much water cause low chloride levels?
Although very rare, low chloride blood levels can also be caused by drinking large amounts of water, not getting enough chloride from food, and certain genetic disorders.
What are the major functions of chloride in the body?
Overall, they play an important role in keeping the balance of our bodies' fluids (thus, helping to regulate our blood pressure) as well as the pH. Chloride is also important to help the muscles and heart contract and to help our nerve cells carry messages (nerve impulses) between the brain and the body.
What can cause Hypochloremia?
Hypochloremia can be caused by:Diarrhea.Vomiting.Excessive sweating.Kidney problems.Chronic respiratory acidosis, which is when your body can't remove all the carbon dioxide it produces.Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone excretion (SIADH), when your body makes too much antidiuretic hormones.More items...•
What blood test shows if you are dehydrated?
"A serum osmolality test measures the freezing point of blood serum to show how concentrated a sample of blood is. People's blood becomes more concentrated as they become dehydrated.
What is the normal range for chloride?
Normal Results A typical normal range is 96 to 106 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 96 to 106 millimoles per liter (millimol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
What is a normal chloride level for a woman?
A typical normal range is 96 to 106 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 96 to 106 millimoles per liter (millimol/L).
What does chloride do for the body?
The electrolytes in your blood — chloride, sodium, potassium and bicarbonate — help control nerve and muscle function and maintain the acid-base balance (pH balance) of your blood and your water balance.
What does chloride mean in a blood test?
Chloride is an electrolyte that helps keep a proper fluid and acid-base balance in your body. The chloride blood test, or serum chloride level, is often a part of a comprehensive metabolic panel or a basic metabolic panel.
What are the symptoms of high sodium levels in the blood?
Symptoms of high sodium levels (hypernatremia) include:Thirst.Urinating (peeing) very little.Vomiting.Diarrhea.Confusion.Muscle twitching.Seizures.
What is high chloride?
High chloride levels (>106-110 mEq/L) are known as hyperchloremia. Long-term or severe hyperchloremia can have the following symptoms from dehydration and metabolic acidosis (low blood pH) [ 1, 2 ]: Symptoms of high chloride levels depend on the underlying cause, such as dehydration or metabolic acidosis.
Why is chloride high?
Symptoms of high chloride levels depend on the underlying cause, such as dehydration or metabolic acidosis. Other potential causes include high salt intake, underlying electrolyte imbalances, and certain genetic disorders. High chloride levels are not enough for a diagnosis.
How does dehydration affect chloride levels?
Dehydration increases the concentration of chloride in the body by decreasing the amount of water. In these conditions, the kidneys reduce urine production to preserve more water [ 11 ].
What is the role of chloride in the body?
Chloride plays an important role in acid and electrolyte balance, kidney and muscle function, and the transport of minerals, water, and gases. Both high and low blood chloride levels can cause health issues. Keep reading to learn more about high chloride levels and the symptoms and disorders caused by it.
What is the term for a low pH?
Metabolic acidosis (low blood pH) occurs when the body produces excessive acids or insufficient bicarbonate. This loss of bicarbonate increases the concentration of chloride to maintain negative charges in the blood [ 14, 15 ].
What causes chloride to accumulate in blood?
Positive and negative charges in the blood must be balanced to remain electrically neutral. Conditions promoting the increased buildup of positive electrolytes such as sodium and potassium in the blood will lead to the excessive accumulation of chloride [ 21 ].
Which enzymes promote chloride buildup?
Blockers of the enzyme that transforms carbon dioxide into bicarbonate (carbonic anhydrase II) also promote chloride buildup [ 19 ].
Why is chlorine high in blood?
Usually, high levels of chlorine in the blood is discovered during tests for electrolyte levels. When the body is stressed, electrolyte levels may become imbalanced . The kidneys help regulate electrolyte levels, so electrolyte problems can signal a problem with the kidneys. Hyperchloremia often points to another problem.
What is the cause of dehydration?
Prevention. Takeaway. Hyperchloremia is a disorder in which a person has too much chloride in their blood. Chloride is an electrolyte, and changes in electrolyte levels can cause dehydration. Electrolytes such as chloride, sodium, and bicarbonate are minerals that dissolve in the fluids of the body.
Can you treat hyperchloremia with prompt treatment?
Prompt treatment can prevent serious side effects, so people who experience symptoms of hyperchloremia should tell their doctor immediately.
Can you diagnose high chloride levels?
People should not self-diagnose.
Can chemotherapy cause hyperchloremia?
People undergoing chemotherapy may become nauseated or vomit, leading to dehydration that causes hyperchloremia. Chemotherapy can also damage the kidneys, harming their ability to maintain the body’s balance of electrolytes. People taking chemotherapy drugs that harm the kidneys may need regular electrolyte tests.
Can you manage hyperchloremia?
Takeaway. People can usually manage hyperchloremia with lifestyle changes. Individuals who notice that their symptoms are not improving or are getting worse, however, should contact their doctor immediately. Seizures, loss of consciousness, and other serious symptoms may indicate kidney or liver failure.
Does drinking alcohol help with hyperchloremia?
Drinking regularly, while avoiding alcohol or caffeine, may help to treat hyperchloremia. In most cases, a diagnosis of hyperchloremia will require additional testing to uncover the cause. Bloodwork may reveal a problem with the kidneys or liver.
How to know if your chloride level is high?
The only reliable way to determine if your chloride levels are high is by using an electrolyte blood test.
What Are the Symptoms of High Chloride?
When you have too much chloride in the blood, this condition is also known as hyperchloremia. It can produce a range of symptoms such as the following ones:
What Is Chloride?
Chloride is an electrolyte that maintains the acid-base balance in your body. This is also known as the pH balance and it stops your blood from becoming too acidic or too alkaline. Chloride also helps with transmitting nerve impulses. These impulses control the hundreds of muscles in your body.
What Are the Causes of Hyperchloremia?
In many cases, too much chloride might be caused by kidney problems and their inability to regulate this substance properly.
How Is High Chloride Treated?
Fortunately, having too much chlorine in the blood can be fixed with the right treatment. The exact treatment option depends on how you acquired too much chloride in the blood or other factors. For example, if hyperchloremia is caused by dehydration, the treatment is to hydrate yourself frequently.
Why is there chloride in my blood?
Keep in mind that too much chloride in your blood might be caused by a set of kidneys that don't work properly. Therefore, complications might be related to these important organs and that's why you need to act fast and order a comprehensive metabolic blood test.
How to tell if you have too much chloride in your blood?
As mentioned earlier, the most accurate way to determine if you have too much chloride in your blood is by using a blood test. You can order an individual blood test for this particular electrolyte only. It's usually called a chloride blood test.
What does a high chloride level in the blood mean?
A chloride level in the blood above normal range is called hyperchloremia. It shows an unbalance in the water and chloride amount in the body. Hyperchloremia occurs when the water loss are higher than the chloride loss or when the procedure to excrete the excessive amount of chloride out of the body does not work properly.
Why is chloride in blood high?
Chloride in the blood is a bit high, but it is not a matter for concern. It may be due to dehydration or interaction with medication. It is advisable to study the sodium blood level for a better diagnosis. If there is no other alteration, it is probable that in the next blood test the chloride value in the blood returns to the normal range.
What is the normal chloride level in the blood?
If you need to know which are the chloride reference ranges or you require more information about the role of chloride in the blood, you can visit normal chloride level in the blood
Why is it common to have hyperchloremia?
It is very common to see hyperchloremia in case of dehydration or kidney disorders. Hyperchloremia is usually related to hypernatremia (a high sodium level in the blood) and metabolic acidosis. In the International System of Units (SI), chloride in the blood is measured in mmol/L.
Is 125 mEq/L chloride a serious matter?
Marked hyperchloremia (> 125 mEq/L in adults): Values of chloride above 125 mEq/L are considered a serious matter, although it is not common.
Your Chloride level of 108 is a High Chloride level
If your Chloride is in between 98 mmol/L and 107 mmol/L, then you need not worry as 98-107 mmol/L is the normal range for Chloride. But if your Chloride is lesser or greater than the above values, then there may be some problem in your body.
Consult a doctor for your Chloride problem
If you take a Chloride blood test and the results are not in the normal range (98-107 mmol/L), your physician may recommend more tests to figure out the problem. You might also get this test if your physician thinks you have some other disease.
How the Chloride Test Is Done
If your doctor wants Chloride test on you, you may need a Chloride blood test. During the Chloride blood test, a pathologist will put a needle into your veins and take out a small quantity of blood. A pathologist is a physician in the medical field who thoroughly studies the causes and effects of disease.
How to manage high chloride in blood?
One of the best ways to manage hyperchloremia or high chloride in blood is by making lifestyle changes. If it is due to dehydration, then you need to drink plenty of water every day. You can also change into a healthier and balanced diet and avoid drinks such as alcoholand caffeine.
What does low chloride mean in blood?
What Does Low Chloride In Blood Mean? Low chloride levels may mean that you are suffering from a condition called hypoglycemia. This occurs when the number of chloride ions in your body is decreasing. Abnormal chloride levels do not necessarily mean that you are suffering from a certain condition.
Why is chloride high in newborns?
But this should not be a problem for newborns because their serum chloride levels are usually high after birth. The rise of chloride levels is not a sign of a health issue.
How does chloride affect your blood test results?
Your serum chloride levels are affected by various factors, and other labs may be using a different method that could impact your result. The amount of fluid in your body is also a factor that can affect your test results. For instance, the chloride levels in your body decrease as you lose fluid due to diarrhea or vomiting.
Why is chloride important?
Chloride in your blood is very essential in keeping the proper balance of the fluid and acid in your body. It also helps in maintaining your blood pressure, blood volume, and pH levels. The chloride blood test, or serum chloride level, is used to measure the chloride levels in your blood.
What is chloride in food?
It is commonly known as sodium chloride. It can also be found in various vegetables such as lettuce, olives, celery, tomatoes, and rye.
Why does chloride decrease in the body?
For instance, the chloride levels in your body decrease as you lose fluid due to diarrhea or vomiting. It is best to talk with your doctor to know if your result is a sign of a health problem.
Your Chloride level of 110 indicates a High Chloride level
If your Chloride is in between 98 mmol/L and 107 mmol/L, then you need not worry as 98-107 mmol/L is the normal range for Chloride. But if your Chloride is lesser or greater than the above values, then there may be some problem in your body.
Consult a doctor for your Chloride problem
If you take a Chloride blood test and the results are not in the normal range (98-107 mmol/L), your physician may recommend more tests to figure out the problem. You might also get this test if your physician thinks you have some other disease.
How the Chloride Test Is Done
If your doctor wants Chloride test on you, you may need a Chloride blood test. During the Chloride blood test, a pathologist will put a needle into your veins and take out a small quantity of blood. A pathologist is a physician in the medical field who thoroughly studies the causes and effects of disease.
Your Chloride level of 109 indicates a High Chloride level
If your Chloride is in between 98 mmol/L and 107 mmol/L, then you need not worry as 98-107 mmol/L is the normal range for men and women. But if your Chloride is lesser or greater than the above values, then there may be some problem in your body.
Consult a doctor for your Low Chloride problem
If you take a Chloride blood test and the results are not in the normal range (98-107 mmol/L), your physician may recommend more tests to figure out the problem. You might also get this test if your physician thinks you have some other disease.
How the Chloride Test Is Done
If your doctor wants Chloride test on you, you may need a Chloride blood test. During the Chloride blood test, a pathologist will put a needle into your veins and take out a small quantity of blood. A pathologist is a physician in the medical field who thoroughly studies the causes and effects of disease.
Overview
A chloride blood test (serum chloride) measures the level of chloride in your blood.
Test Details
You don't need any special preparations for a chloride blood test or an electrolyte panel.
Results and Follow-Up
Blood test reports, including chloride blood test reports, usually provide the following information:
