Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances

Fluid and Electrolyte 333

Definition: Imbalances
Electrolytes are minerals in your
body that have
They are in blood, urine, and body fluids an
electric charge.
electrolytes helps body's blood Maintaining
chemistory, muscles the right
balance of
Sodium, Calcium, Potacium, action and other
er nr
processes.
It phosphate
electrolytes. gets them from the foods and the and
megnacium are all
Levels of electrolytes in body can fluid.
happen when the amount of water become too low or too
in body high. That can
overhydration causes includes some medicines,changes causing dehydration or
often occure withvomiting
kidney problems. Problems most diarrhea,
level of sodium, sweating
or
calcium.
Effect of Fluid Imbalance: potassium or
When fluid imbalance in
body three machanism occur
Increased Plasma Volume mainly.

Systemic edema
Decreased plasma volume

Increased hematocrit
Hypovolemic shock
Fluid retension reflexes
Altered Extra Cellular Fluid

Osmotic shifts

Cerebral swelling or shrinking

Hypotonic plasma - Osmotic inflow to cells

Cell swelling
Hypertonic plasma-Osmotic out flow from cells

Cells shrinkage
Electrolyte Imbalances
Excess or deficiency of one ion often produces imbalance in other ions.
An electrolyte disorder occurs when the levels of electrolytes in body are either

too high or too low.

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Electrolytes substances are present in body blood. Fluids and urine.

Electrolyte need to be maintained in an even balance for body function
Otherwise vital body systems can be affected. Severe
properly.
cause serious problems like, coma, seizurs and cardiac
electrolyte imbalance can
arrest.
Common symptoms of an
electrolyte
disorder include-
Iregular heart beat
Fast heartrate
Fatigue
Lethargy
Convulsions or seizures
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea, constipation
Muscles weakness and cramping
Numbness and tingling
Headaches
Confusion
Abdominal cramping
Causes ofElectrolyte disorders
Loss of bodily fluid through prolonged vomiting, diarrhea or
sweating.
Types of Electrolyte disorder
Sodium:- Sodium is needed in the body to maintain
and normal body function. It also helps to
fluid balance
regulate
nerve function
and muscles contraction.
Hypernatremia:-
It happens when there is too much
sodium in the blood. It may occur due
to.

Inadequate water consumption

Severe dehydration
Excessive loss of body fluids due to
prolonged vomiting, diarrhea,
sweatingorrespiratory illness.
Certain medications including corticosteroid.
Hypernatremia
Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances
335
Hyponatremia:
It develops when there is too little sodium. It
may due to
excessive fluid loss through the skin from
sweating or burns.
vomiting or diarrhea
poor nutrition
alcohol use disorder
Thyroid and adrenal disorders
Liver, heart, kidney failure

Hyponatremia
Potassium:
It is
important
for regulating heart function. It also helps maintain
nerves and muscles. healthy
Hyperkalemia:
It may
develop due to high levels of potassium.
Causes
Aldosterone deficiency state in which
excretion causes kt retension. depression of Renal
Renal failure
extensive trauma especially crushing injuries massive release of
k+ from damaged cells.
Involving extensive hemolysis, large amount of k+ may be
released from damaged red cells.
K+ shifts from the cellular
the extracellular fluid. compartment can increase K+ level in
ECG changes are present in hyperkalemia.
segments is depressed.Twaves are increased. Initially the S-T
Hypokalemia:
It is the condition of lowered K+ concentration. It may be due to
Shift ofK+from the ECF in to the
-

cellular
Inadequate dietary K+ intake and reduced compartment.
absorption.
Excessive loss of K+ in vomiting,
chronic, diarrhea.
Renal malfunction, Aldosterone
It involves depression of the S-T
hypersecretion, certain diuretics.
and prominent U wave.
segment, flattening
of the T wave
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Magnesium:
Itis a mineralthat regulates many important functions such as -
Muscle contractionn
Heart rhythm
Nerve function
Hypermagnesemia
It means excessive amounts of magnesium due to
Excessive supply
Renal retension
GFR decreased
Diabeties mallitus
Hypomagnesemia
It means
having too little magnesium in the body due to -

Malabsorption
Intestinal loss
Deficient supply
Pancreatitis
Calcium
It is a vital mineral that
skeletal muscle contraction. It isbody stabilize blood pressure and control
uses to
also used to build strong bone and
Hypercalcemia:- teeth.
Too much calcium in the
blood.
Hyperthyroidism
Kidney disease
PTH(Increased)
Excessive use of antacid and
calcium or vitamin D
Hypocalcemia: supplements.
Itis lack of
adequate calcium in the blood stream due to-
Vitamin Ddeficiency
Kidney failure
Hypoparathyroidism
Malabsorption syndrome
Reduced PTH
Excessive calcitonin