Electrolyte Imbalances Made Easy –
Understanding Sodium, Potassium &
More
groups at risk for electrolyte imbalance - elderly, excessive exercise, diabetics,
dehydrated people
hypernatremia - serum sodium >145 mEQ/L.
aldosterone - reuptake of sodium is regulated by what hormone?
sodium - electrolye needed for nerve impulse transmission and acid/base balance
fever, diarrhea, heat stroke, osmotic diuretic treatment - In hypernatremia, water loss
in excess of Na loss causes ______________
hypertonic tube feedings, IV infusions - In hypernatremia, Na intake in excess of
water intake cause______
s/s of hypernatremia - thirst, dry flushed skin, dry mucous membranes. poor skin
turgor, confusion, restlessness agitation, decreased urine output
hypernatremia - treatment of ____is to replace water gradually, low salt diet,
rehydrate with IV isotonic fulids
inside the cells - most of the body's water is located
135-145 mEQ/L - normal serum sodium concentration
3.5-5.0 mEQ/L - normal serum potassium concentration
aldosterone - which hormone exerts the most control over how much sodium is
retained or excreted by the kidneys?
anasarca - massive generalized edema
rapid weight gain - what is the most reliable sign of current fluid volume excess?
adult male - what group (age/sex) would get the highest rate of IV infusion
hyponatremia (low sodium in ECF) - serum sodium < 135 mEQ/L
diuretics + dietary restriction, vomiting, nasogastric drainage, diarrhea, sweating, or
aldosterone deficiency - In hyponatremia, sodium loss is caused by _____-
tap water enemas, excessive administration of hypotonic IV solutions, massive PO
intake - In hyponatremia, water gain could be caused by_
, s/s hyponatremia - cellular swelling causing lethargy, twitching, irritability,
convulsions or coma, abdominal cramping nausea, urine specific gravity low
H20 intoxication - normal balance of electrolytes is outside of safe limits, secondary
to the over-consumption of warer
treatment of hyponatremia - restrict fluid intake, hypertonic IV infusions (3% NaCl),
diuretics
potassium - major cation in ICF, causes neuromuscular excitability, muscle
contraction, and assists in regulating acid-base balance
fluid excess - s/s of ______is crackles in the lungs, edema, excessive urination and
weight gain
cells swell - When _________ the s/s are personality changes, confusion, irritability,
drowsiness, SOB. In brain swelling leads to intercranial pressure
people at risk for potassium imbalance - anorexics, alcoholics, people with
malabsorption syndrome and elderly
kidneys excrete excess - Food is a major source of potassium, if the diet contains
more than needed,__________. There is not much stored
potassium, sodium - Sodium potassium pump works against the gradient, bringing
_into the cell and transporting _out
resting membrane potential - ratio of K+ in ICF & ECF causes a ______on the cell
membranes which affects neurmuscluar and cardiac cells and also controls
excitability of muscles and affects heart contrations
hypokalemia - serum potassium <3.5 mEQ/L
reasons of hypokalemia - reduced potassium intake, GI losses through vomiting and
NG suction, diarrhea, ileostomy, diuterics (especially loop)
s/s hypokalemia - cardiac dysrhythmias, fatigu, anorexia, nausea+vomiting,
weakness in legs, paresthesias
anorexia - This condition causes death due to heart failure, fatal arrhythmias, fluid
and electrolyte imbalances
tx hypokalemia - potassium replacement, oral route preferred because there is less
likelihood of dysrhthmias by can be IV- IV pump is needed at a steady rate, a central
line is preferred because the hypertonic solution is very irritating to veins, can never
be as an IV blus
hyperkalemia - serum potassium>5.3 mEQ/L
Understanding Sodium, Potassium &
More
groups at risk for electrolyte imbalance - elderly, excessive exercise, diabetics,
dehydrated people
hypernatremia - serum sodium >145 mEQ/L.
aldosterone - reuptake of sodium is regulated by what hormone?
sodium - electrolye needed for nerve impulse transmission and acid/base balance
fever, diarrhea, heat stroke, osmotic diuretic treatment - In hypernatremia, water loss
in excess of Na loss causes ______________
hypertonic tube feedings, IV infusions - In hypernatremia, Na intake in excess of
water intake cause______
s/s of hypernatremia - thirst, dry flushed skin, dry mucous membranes. poor skin
turgor, confusion, restlessness agitation, decreased urine output
hypernatremia - treatment of ____is to replace water gradually, low salt diet,
rehydrate with IV isotonic fulids
inside the cells - most of the body's water is located
135-145 mEQ/L - normal serum sodium concentration
3.5-5.0 mEQ/L - normal serum potassium concentration
aldosterone - which hormone exerts the most control over how much sodium is
retained or excreted by the kidneys?
anasarca - massive generalized edema
rapid weight gain - what is the most reliable sign of current fluid volume excess?
adult male - what group (age/sex) would get the highest rate of IV infusion
hyponatremia (low sodium in ECF) - serum sodium < 135 mEQ/L
diuretics + dietary restriction, vomiting, nasogastric drainage, diarrhea, sweating, or
aldosterone deficiency - In hyponatremia, sodium loss is caused by _____-
tap water enemas, excessive administration of hypotonic IV solutions, massive PO
intake - In hyponatremia, water gain could be caused by_
, s/s hyponatremia - cellular swelling causing lethargy, twitching, irritability,
convulsions or coma, abdominal cramping nausea, urine specific gravity low
H20 intoxication - normal balance of electrolytes is outside of safe limits, secondary
to the over-consumption of warer
treatment of hyponatremia - restrict fluid intake, hypertonic IV infusions (3% NaCl),
diuretics
potassium - major cation in ICF, causes neuromuscular excitability, muscle
contraction, and assists in regulating acid-base balance
fluid excess - s/s of ______is crackles in the lungs, edema, excessive urination and
weight gain
cells swell - When _________ the s/s are personality changes, confusion, irritability,
drowsiness, SOB. In brain swelling leads to intercranial pressure
people at risk for potassium imbalance - anorexics, alcoholics, people with
malabsorption syndrome and elderly
kidneys excrete excess - Food is a major source of potassium, if the diet contains
more than needed,__________. There is not much stored
potassium, sodium - Sodium potassium pump works against the gradient, bringing
_into the cell and transporting _out
resting membrane potential - ratio of K+ in ICF & ECF causes a ______on the cell
membranes which affects neurmuscluar and cardiac cells and also controls
excitability of muscles and affects heart contrations
hypokalemia - serum potassium <3.5 mEQ/L
reasons of hypokalemia - reduced potassium intake, GI losses through vomiting and
NG suction, diarrhea, ileostomy, diuterics (especially loop)
s/s hypokalemia - cardiac dysrhythmias, fatigu, anorexia, nausea+vomiting,
weakness in legs, paresthesias
anorexia - This condition causes death due to heart failure, fatal arrhythmias, fluid
and electrolyte imbalances
tx hypokalemia - potassium replacement, oral route preferred because there is less
likelihood of dysrhthmias by can be IV- IV pump is needed at a steady rate, a central
line is preferred because the hypertonic solution is very irritating to veins, can never
be as an IV blus
hyperkalemia - serum potassium>5.3 mEQ/L
