electro

Calcium main job

• Muscle contraction (including heart ❤)

• Nerve transmission

• Blood clotting

• Bone strength

Normal range 8.5 - 10.5

🟦 LOW Calicum <8.5

Not enough calcium to stabilize nerves

💥 What happens:

• Nerves become overactive

• Fire too easily

LEADS TO Symptoms

• Tetany (muscle spasms) → nerves overfiring

• seizures → brain overstimulated

• positive chvostek/trousseau sign =twitching

• Hyperreflexia → exaggerated response

🟥 HIGH Calicum >10.5

👉 Too much calcium → suppresses nerves

💥 What happens:

• Nerves become sluggish

• Harder to activate muscles

SYMPTOMS

• ↓ reflexes

• constipation → smooth muscle slows

• weakness → muscles don't contract well

Magnesium main job

Regulates nerve activity

• Controls muscle relaxation

• Helps with cardiac rhythm

• Acts like a natural sedative

Normal: 1.5 - 2.5 mEq/L

low magensium <1.5

👉 Lose the "calming effect"

💥 What happens:

• Nervous system becomes overstimulated

•irritability

• hyperflexia

•seizures

No magnesium = no chill

High magnesium >2.5

👉 Too much magnesium = too much suppression

💥 What happens:

• Nervous system shuts down

lethargy

• ⬇reflexes

• respiratory depression

Too calm = too dangerous

LOW Ca or LOW Mg

→ OVEREXCITED → seizures, reflexes

HIGH Ca or HIGH Mg

→ DEPRESSED → weak, slow, ↓ reflexe

Magnesium controls calcium release

• High Mg → blocks calcium → ↓ muscle activity

• Low Mg → calcium overacts → ↑ excitability

⚡ POTASSIUM (K⁺) — "Heart & Muscle Boss"

🧠 MAIN ROLE:

• Controls cell excitability

• Critical for muscle contraction (especially heart)

• Maintains resting membrane potential

Normal range 3.5-4.5

🟦 HYPOKALEMIA (K⁺ < 3.5 mEq/L)

Causes:

• Vomiting, diarrhea

• Diuretics (lasix/furosemide)

• Low magnesium

💥 What happens:

1. Less K⁺ in blood → cells become hyperpolarized

2. Muscles can't contract properly → weakness

3. Heart cells → arrhythmias

👀 S/Sx:

• Weakness, cramps

• ↓ bowel motility

• Dysrhythmias (PVCs, flat T waves)

Low K⁺ → muscles DOWN → heart DOWN"

Hypokalemia → give K⁺ (IV if severe)

🟥 HYPERKALEMIA (K⁺ > 5.0 mEq/L)

Causes:

• Kidney failure

• ACE inhibitors, K⁺ sparing diuretics

• Tissue damage (burns, crush injuries)

💥 What happens:

1. K⁺ high → cells depolarize too easily

2. Heart → dangerous arrhythmias

3. Muscle → twitching → eventually paralysis

👀 S/Sx:

• Muscle twitch → weakness → paralysis

• Peaked T waves, widened QRS

• Cardiac arrest ⚠

Hyperkalemia → calcium gluconate → insulin + glucose → kayexalate

⚡ SODIUM (Na⁺) — "Water & Brain Boss"

🧠 MAIN ROLE:

• Controls water balance (osmotic pressure)

• Brain function → neurons fire properly

• Helps with fluid distribution

Normal range 135-145

🟦 HYPONATREMIA (Na⁺ < 135 mEq/L)

Causes:

• Vomiting, diarrhea → sodium loss

• SIADH → water retention dilutes Na⁺

• Diuretics

💥 What happens:

1. Low sodium → low osmotic pressure

2. Water moves into brain cells → cerebral edema

3. Cells swell → neurological problems

👀 S/Sx:

• Headache

• Confusion

• Seizures ⚠

• weakness

Brains swells

Hyponatremia → give hypertonic saline if severe

🟥 HYPERNATREMIA (Na⁺ > 145 mEq/L)

Causes:

• Dehydration → water loss

• Excess Na⁺ intake

• Diabetes insipidus

💥 What happens:

1. High sodium → high osmotic pressure

2. Water leaves brain cells → cells shrink

3. CNS irritability

👀 S/Sx:

• Thirst

• Restlessness, confusion

• Seizures

• Dry mucous membranes

Brain shrinks

Hypernatremia → give hypotonic fluids slowly