Electrolytes: Sodium and Potassium Lecture

Vocabulary terms covering basic electrolyte concepts, sodium (hypernatremia and hyponatremia), and potassium (hyperkalemia and hypokalemia) based on lecture notes.

Electrolyte person

A visual tool consisting of two line drawings of a body used to help students visualize electrolyte information.

Hyper-

A prefix meaning too much or excessive.

Hypo-

A prefix meaning too low or deficient.

Natremia

The term used to refer to sodium levels in the blood.

Kalemia

The term used to refer to potassium levels in the blood; derived from the periodic table symbol 'K'.

Calcemia

The term used to refer to calcium levels in the blood; derived from the periodic table symbol 'C'.

Sodium Normal Range

The normal value according to Pearson is between $135$ and $145$.

ECF (Extracellular Fluid)

The fluid compartment where sodium primarily lives, indicated by its higher concentration range.

Sodium Clinical Focus

The body system primarily associated with sodium imbalances is neurological (neuro), characterized by mental status changes and seizures.

Hypernatremia

A sodium level over $145$, with critical levels listed in some books as over $160$.

Cushing's (Hypernatremia Cause)

An excess of cortisol that causes the body to hold onto sodium.

Diabetes Insipidus

A condition involving the brain and glands that results in the rapid loss of large amounts of dilute urine, leading to fluid loss and hypernatremia.

Fried and Salted

An acronym for symptoms of hypernatremia, including restlessness, agitation, irritability, decreased energy, lethargy, altered LOC, confusion, and thirst.

Hyponatremia

A sodium level below $135$, with critical levels listed between $115$ and $120$.

Seizure Precautions

Nursing interventions for low sodium levels ($116$ as an example) that include padding side rails, having suction at the bedside, and keeping the bed low.

Potassium Normal Range

The normal value typically ranges from $3.5$ to $5$ (or up to $5.3$ in some texts).

ICF (Intracellular Fluid)

The fluid compartment where potassium primarily lives, indicated by its lower serum concentration range.

Potassium Clinical Focus

The body system primarily affected by potassium is the cardiac system (heart); both high and low levels can cause cardiac arrest.

Sodium Polystyrene Sulfate

A medication given to lower potassium levels by binding to it and eliminating it through the bowel.

IV Insulin (for Hyperkalemia)

A treatment that pushes potassium from the blood back into the cells; must be given with glucose/dextrose to prevent blood sugar from dropping.

Calcium Gluconate

A medication given in hyperkalemia cases to stabilize the heart and prevent cardiac arrest.

Severe Tissue Trauma

A cause of hyperkalemia (e.g., severe burns or crush injuries) where damaged cells release their stored potassium into the bloodstream.

Hyperkalemia ECG Changes

Cardiac signs including tall peaked T waves and a widened QRS complex.

Magnesium (Relationship to Potassium)

A mineral that helps run the sodium-potassium pump; potassium replacement may be ineffective if this mineral is also low and not replaced.

Hypokalemia ECG Changes

Cardiac signs including flat or inverted T waves and the presence of a U wave.

Digoxin Toxicity Risk

A complication of hypokalemia because potassium and digoxin bind to the same receptor sites; low potassium increases the risk of toxic drug levels.