Electrolyte blood test

What this test is

Electrolytes are minerals in your blood. They include sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. They help your nerves, muscles, and kidneys work well. Checking them makes sense in a few cases. One is if you take certain medications, like water pills. Another is if you have vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disease. If none of these apply to you, checking electrolytes as part of a yearly panel usually tells us little. A slightly off number in a healthy person is often just normal change. It is not a sign of a problem. Chasing it can cause more worry than it saves.