Final answer:
The universal symptom of electrolyte imbalance is edema. Imbalances in electrolytes like sodium and potassium can lead to severe health issues like muscle weakness, cardiac problems, and fluid retention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The universal symptom of electrolyte imbalance is edema. Electrolyte imbalance can lead to various health issues, including muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, paralysis, fluid retention, and muscle spasms depending on which electrolyte is out of balance. For example, excessive extracellular sodium can lead to fluid retention, which can manifest as edema. Edema can cause not just swelling, but also potentially serious complications like impairing circulation and urinal function. Therefore, balancing electrolytes is important for overall health and preventing conditions like systemic edema.