Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalances (Ch 24)

What does body fluid homeostasis focus on?

How fluid enters the body and how it gets into the bloodstream

What is fluid intake?

The entry of fluid into the body by any route

What is the most common route of fluid intake?

Drinking liquids

How else can fluid enter the body?

Through foods or through an IV

Drinking a glass of water, drinking juice, eating soup, eating water-rich fruits, and receiving fluids through an IV are all ways in which _______ can enter the body:

Fluid

The process of fluid being moved from where it enters the body, into the vascular system (bloodstream) is called…

Fluid absorption

When you drink water, it does not immediately enter the _________:

Bloodstream

Where does water travel before entering the bloodstream?

Through the digestive system

Fluid enters through the _____ when you drink water, that water travels through the __________, then gets absorbed through the __________ and into the _________:

Mouth, digestive system, intestinal wall, blood

Which parts of the digestive system does water travel through?

The stomach and intestines

Where is water absorbed into the blood?

Through the intestinal wall

Where does most water absorption occur?

The small intestine

The body must ______ the fluids first in order to use them:

Absorb

What is extracellular fluid?

All fluid located outside the body's cells

What does extracellular fluid consist of?

Interstitial fluid and plasma

What does interstitial fluid mean?

Fluid between and around the cells

What is plasma?

The liquid portion of blood that carries blood cells

What is extracellular fluid volume deficit?

A condition in which the body loses too much fluid

When extracellular fluid volume deficit occurs, there is now less fluid _______ of your cells.

Outside

When extracellular fluid volume deficit occurs, there is also less fluid available in your _________:

Bloodstream

What is the main cause of extracellular fluid volume deficit?

Loss of a sodium-containing fluid from the body

Where is sodium found mainly?

In the extracellular fluid

_______ tends to follow ______:

Water, sodium

When you lose fluid containing sodium, you usually lose ________ too:

Water

How can diarrhea cause volume deficit?

Frequent loose stools causes loss of water and sodium

How can vomiting cause volume deficit?

Expelling stomach contents causes loss of water and electrolytes

How can hemorrhaging cause volume deficit?

It causes blood loss and decreases the amount of circulating blood

How can massive diaphoresis cause volume deficit?

Heavy sweating causes loss of water and sodium

What does massive diaphoresis mean?

Heavy sweating

How can burns cause volume deficit?

Damaged skin allows fluid to escape from blood vessels

What happens to body weight with volume deficit?

Weight decreases

A loss of _______ causes total body weight to decrease:

Water

What happens to heart rate with volume deficit?

It increases

Why can volume deficit cause lightheadedness or dizziness?

Reduced blood volume can decrease blood flow to the brain

What can happen to blood pressure with volume deficit?

It may change

What is extracellular fluid volume excess?

A condition in which the body holds too much water and sodium or receives more fluid than it can remove

During extracellular fluid volume excess, there is now too much fluid ______ your cells:

Outside

During extracellular fluid volume excess, the amount of fluid inside your blood vessels and tissues surrounding your cells ________:

Increases

When too much fluid moves into the tissues, _________ can develop:

Swelling

Aldosterone causes the kidneys to retain _______, which also causes the body to retain _________:

Water

Aldosterone can contribute to extracellular fluid volume _______:

Excess

Swelling, weight gain, bounding pulse, shortness of breath, crackles in the lungs, and neck vein distention are all clinical manifestations of…

Extracellular fluid volume excess

What can be heard in the lungs with extracellular fluid excess? Why?

Crackles because of fluid in the lungs

Hyponatremia and Hypernatremia focus on the imbalance of which electrolyte?

Sodium

What is the normal range for sodium?

135-145

What is hyponatremia?

Low sodium

What serum sodium level indicates hyponatremia?

Below 135

Hyponatremia can indicate that there is too ___________ in the blood:

little sodium

Hyponatremia can also mean there is too ___________ compared to the amount of sodium:

much water

How can too much water cause hyponatremia?

It dilutes the sodium concentration

What is hypernatremia?

High sodium

What serum sodium level indicates hypernatremia?

Above 145

Hypernatremia can indicate that there is too __________ in the blood:

much sodium

Hypernatremia could also mean there is too __________ compared to the amount of sodium:

little water

In hypernatremia, not having enough water in the blood can be caused by a lack of _______ or inability to respond to _______:

fluids; thirst

Hypo means…

Low

Hyper means…

High

During hyponatremia, the cell _______:

Swells (from too much water)

During hypernatremia, the cell ________:

Shrinks (from too little water)

What can hyponatremia cause besides cell swelling?

Malaise

What gastrointestinal symptom can hyponatremia cause?

Nausea

What can hyponatremia cause after nausea?

Vomiting

What neurological symptom can hyponatremia cause?

Headache

What mental-status change can hyponatremia cause?

Confusion

What can severe hyponatremia cause?

Seizures

What happens to cells during hypernatremia?

They shrink

What mental-status change can hypernatremia cause?

Confusion

What level of alertness can hypernatremia cause?

Lethargy

What thirst and urination pattern can occur with hypernatremia?

Thirsty but no urine

What can hypernatremia cause neurologically?

Seizures

What is potassium?

An electrolyte found mainly inside cells

What is potassium important for?

Muscle contraction nerve signals and normal heart rhythm

What is the chemical symbol for potassium?

K

What does the word part "-kalemia" relate to?

Potassium in the blood

What is the normal potassium range?

3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

What is hypokalemia?

Low potassium

What potassium level indicates hypokalemia?

Below 3.5 mEq/L

What happens when potassium is too low?

Muscles and nerves do not function normally

What is hyperkalemia?

High potassium

What potassium level indicates hyperkalemia?

Above 5.0 mEq/L

Why can hyperkalemia be very dangerous?

Too much potassium can interfere with the electrical activity of the heart

What can severe hyperkalemia do to the heart?

It can stop the heart

What muscle symptom can hypokalemia cause?

Muscle weakness

What else can hypokalemia cause in the muscles?

Muscle cramps

What energy-related symptom can hypokalemia cause?

Fatigue

What gastrointestinal symptom can hypokalemia cause?

Constipation

What cardiac problem can hypokalemia cause?

Abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrhythmia

What muscle symptom can hyperkalemia cause?

Muscle weakness

What sensory symptoms can hyperkalemia cause?

Numbness or tingling

What cardiac problem can hyperkalemia cause?

Abnormal heart rhythms

What can severe hyperkalemia cause?

Potentially life-threatening cardiac problems

What is calcium?

An electrolyte important for muscle contraction nerve signals blood clotting bone and teeth strength and normal heart function

Where is most of the body's calcium stored?

In the bones

Where is a small amount of calcium found?

In the blood

What is the chemical symbol for calcium?

Ca

What is the normal calcium range?

9 to 11 mg/dL

What is hypocalcemia?

Low calcium

What calcium level indicates hypocalcemia?

Below 9 mg/dL

What happens to muscles and nerves when calcium is too low?

They may become overly excitable

What is hypercalcemia?

High calcium