Low and high chloride levels can be caused by various conditions and diseases. An increased level of blood chloride (called hyperchloremia) usually indicates
dehydration
, but can also occur with other problems that cause high blood sodium, such as Cushing syndrome or kidney disease.
How do you lower your chloride level?
- taking medications to prevent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- changing drugs if they are a factor in the electrolyte imbalance.
- drinking 2–3 quarts of fluid every day.
- receiving intravenous fluids.
- eating a better, more balanced diet.
- treating underlying mental health problems if an eating disorder is the culprit.
What can cause high chloride levels?
- Loss of body fluids from prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or high fever (dehydration).
- High levels of blood sodium.
- Kidney failure, or kidney disorders.
- Diabetes insipidus or diabetic coma.
- Drugs such as: androgens, corticosteroids, estrogens, and certain diuretics.
What does it mean when your chloride is high?
High levels of chloride may indicate:
Dehydration
.
Kidney disease
.
Acidosis
, a condition in which you have too much acid in your blood.
What can increase chloride levels?
- Cortisone (used to ease pain and inflammation)
- Estrogen.
- Ammonium chloride (used to treat people with low chloride in the blood and a condition called metabolic alkalosis)
Is a chloride level of 110 bad?
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.
What are the symptoms of high chloride?
- excessive fatigue.
- muscle weakness.
- breathing problems.
- frequent vomiting.
- prolonged diarrhea.
- excessive thirst.
- high blood pressure.
Can dehydration cause high CO2 levels?
High values
A high level may be caused by: Vomiting.
Dehydration
. Blood transfusions.
What foods are high in chloride?
Food Sources
Chloride is found in table salt or sea salt as sodium chloride. It is also found in many vegetables. Foods with higher amounts of chloride include
seaweed, rye, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, and olives
. Chloride, combined with potassium, is also found in many foods.
Why is chloride bad?
Chlorides
can corrode metals and affect the taste of food products
. Therefore, water that is used in industry or processed for any use has a recommended maximum chloride level. Chlorides can contaminate freshwater streams and lakes. Fish and aquatic communities cannot survive in high levels of chlorides.
How does chloride affect the body?
Chloride is one of the most important electrolytes in the blood. It
helps keep the amount of fluid inside and outside of your cells in balance
. It also helps maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of your body fluids.
What does a high CO2 blood level mean?
Abnormal results may indicate that your body has an electrolyte imbalance, or that there is a problem removing carbon dioxide through your lungs. Too much CO2 in the blood can indicate a variety of conditions including:
Lung diseases
.
Cushing’s syndrome
, a disorder of the adrenal glands.
What blood test indicates dehydration?
Complete blood count (CBC)
– to evaluate blood cells and the balance between the solid and liquid portions of the blood; specifically, one component, the hematocrit, can be elevated with dehydration.
What is a normal chloride level in a blood test?
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. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.
How much chloride should you have a day?
How much chloride do you need?
800 mg of chloride per day
is the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) according to the EU Scientific Committee on Food.
What does a chloride level of 95 mean?
Hypochloremia
is an electrolyte imbalance and is indicated by a low level of chloride in the blood. The normal adult value for chloride is 97-107 mEq/L. Chloride in your blood is an important electrolyte and works to ensure that your body’s metabolism is working correctly.
