More than half of the body is composed of water.
Water acts as a transport mechanism for gases, nutrients, and waste.
Protects organs and bones from external trauma.
Homeostasis: The body regulates fluid movement between compartments using pressure, electrolytes, and hormones.
Intracellular Fluid (ICF):
Constitutes two-thirds of the body’s fluid; found within cells.
Extracellular Fluid (ECF):
Comprises one-third of the body’s fluid, existing outside the cells.
Interstitial Fluid: Located outside cells and the vascular system.
Intravascular Fluid: Found within blood vessels.
Fluid Imbalance:
Refers to fluids shifting from one compartment to another, leading to excess fluid or fluid deficit.
Fluid movement mechanisms include hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure.
Hydrostatic Pressure:
Exerted pressure that pushes fluid from one compartment to another.
Example: Higher pressure in blood vessels pushes fluid to areas with lower pressure.
Osmotic Pressure:
PULLS fluid from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.
Osmolarity:
Describes concentration or number of particles in a fluid, crucial for determining osmotic pressure.
Hyperosmolar State:
High sodium concentration in extracellular fluid (ECF), leading to dehydration.
Body conserves water and secretes more sodium, resulting in lower urine volume and higher urine concentration.
Hypo-osmolar State:
Low sodium concentration in ECF, excess water leads to fluid overload.
Body increases sodium conservation and water secretion, resulting in higher urine volume and lower urine concentration.
Electrolytes:
Regulate fluid levels; for instance, sodium in the renal system adjusts fluid transfer between urinary and vascular systems.
Blood Pressure:
Receptors send signals to the autonomic nervous system to adjust constriction or dilation based on fluid balance.
Proteins:
Attract water to maintain fluid balance; low protein levels can cause fluid to move into interstitial spaces (leading to edema).
Hormones:
Control fluid pressure and can attract fluid; examples include renin and angiotensinogen.
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH):
Promotes water reabsorption in kidneys.
Aldosterone:
Signals kidneys to reabsorb sodium and water.
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) & B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP):
Secreted by the heart to help maintain fluid levels.
Hypovolemia:
Results from blood loss or dehydration (plasma reduction).
Maldistribution:
Movement of fluid between compartments without overall loss; can be due to immune responses or hormone deficits (e.g., allergic reactions).
Hypervolemia:
Excess fluid accumulation where organs cannot effectively manage or excrete it; example: myocardial infarction leads to fluid back up in the venous system.
Hypervolemia:
Signs/Symptoms: Edema, lightheadedness, low blood pressure, increased respiratory rate.
Causes: Heart failure, liver failure, renal failure.
Hypovolemia:
Signs/Symptoms: Dizziness, syncope, weight gain/loss, high heart rate, oliguria/anuria.
Causes: Blood loss, dehydration, gastrointestinal bleed, burns, medications.
Treatment for Hypervolemia: Diuretics or dialysis.
Treatment for Hypovolemia: Administer fluids, blood products, or albumin.
Vital signs monitoring.
Lab tests such as:
Electrolytes, kidney function (Creatinine & BUN), liver enzymes.
Urinalysis, urine specific gravity, BNP levels.
Monitoring intake and output (I&O) and weight changes (notify for 3-5 lbs gain in 1-2 days).
Children:
Decreased fluid volume, sensitive to imbalances, require quick treatment of hypovolemia.
Older Adults:
Less active kidneys and vascular compromise leading to slower compensatory responses.
Environmental Factors:
Climate, available resources, and chemical exposures.
A condition where the body lacks sufficient water.
Occurs due to inadequate intake, excessive loss, or both.
Risk factors: Disease, injury, limited access to water; high predisposition in elderly and children.
Causes of Dehydration:
Loss of water via skin, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys; inadequate intake; blood loss; third spacing (fluid shifts).
Contributing conditions: Diarrhea, medications, increased metabolic rate.
Tonicity: Concentration of solutes in relation to fluid affects the movement of fluid (osmosis).
Dehydration causes fluid to shift compartments and changes tonicity, leading to cell swelling or lysis.
Water moves into cells when solute concentration is higher inside, causing swelling.
Water moves out when solute concentration is lower inside, leading to cell shrinkage.
When water movement is equal, solute concentration inside the cell matches the outside concentration.
Loss of fluid from skin, GI tract, or kidneys.
Decreased or inadequate fluid intake, blood loss, fluid shifting (third-spacing), medications, or increased metabolic rates.
Mild to Moderate Signs:
Thirst, dry mouth, darker urine, dry skin, headache, muscle cramps, bad breath.
Severe Signs:
Little to no urination, very dark urine, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, sunken eyes, lethargy, confusion, fainting.
Compensations for fluid loss include increased ADH & aldosterone levels, leading to concentrated urine.
Staying hydrated is crucial; hydration sources include fruits, vegetables, liquids, and food with high water content.
Infants:
Cannot communicate needs, prone to dehydration, rapid fluid loss due to high surface area/volume ratio.
Adults:
Can communicate needs but may neglect hydration due to busy schedules.
Older Adults:
Sometimes forget to drink, can get cold easily due to fat loss, dependent on caregivers for hydration.
Determine the degree of dehydration to guide rehydration.
Use oral rehydration solutions for mild to moderate cases, providing 50-100 mL/kg over several hours.
For severe dehydration in children, intravenous fluids may be necessary, while maintaining nutrition with breastfeeding/solid foods as tolerated.
Ensure fluid accessibility and provide foods/lifestyles that encourage fluid intake (e.g., fruits/veggies, easy drinking tools for older adults).
Treatment involves oral liquids, high-water-content foods, and possibly IV fluids (hypertonic, isotonic, hypotonic).
Refers to the excess accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces.
Generalized Edema:
Excess fluid accumulation throughout the body.
Localized Edema:
Confined to specific areas (arms, legs, abdomen).
Ascites:
Edema in the abdomen due to liver failure.
Persistent edema may cause skin breakdown and hinder wound healing.
Increased Vascular Permeability:
Altered vessel structure allows excess fluid movement; observed during immune responses.
Increased Hydrostatic Pressure:
Resulting from vascular obstructions, leading to fluid movement into interstitial spaces.
Osmotic Pressure Changes:
Concentration changes affecting fluid shifts occur with protein/albumin loss.
Lymphatic Dysfunction:
Impaired lymphatic system can lead to accumulation of materials resulting in lymphedema.
Lower Extremities:
Commonly seen in heart failure or blood clots.
Abdomen:
Often due to liver disease.
Surrounding Wounds:
Inflammatory responses attract fluid to injuries for healing.
Generalized Edema:
Can be caused by renal diseases leading to systemic issues.
Key Factors: Tumor, heart failure, kidney disease, venous thrombosis, hypoproteinemia, pregnancy, malnutrition, sepsis.
Extent of fluid retention characterized by:
Localized swelling, weight gain, pale/red skin.
Potentially leads to pulmonary congestion with respiratory complications.
Diagnostics include:
Physical assessments and vital signs, laboratory testing (CBC, electrolytes).
Imaging if necessary (ULS, CT).
Treatment Focus:
Identify and correct underlying causes, manage fluid balance with medications, increase direct area pressure (compression stockings), dietary adjustments.
Aging Factors:
Older adults frequently experience edema due to reduced renal function, loss of vascular elasticity, and hormonal changes.
Environmental Factors:
Climate variations, dietary salt intake, and physical activity impact fluid retention.
Overview of necessary minerals (Mg, Ca, Na, K).
Electrolytes:
Charged minerals vital in:
Regulating chemical reactions, balancing fluid systems, and supporting homeostasis by managing osmotic pressure.
Identification of main electrolytes and their conductive properties when dissolved in bodily fluids.
Functions include fluid balance, pH regulation, and electrical signaling in muscles/nerves.
Aging can cause calcium deficiencies; infants may suffer chloride deficiencies affecting development.
Lifestyle factors, such as alcohol intake and medication use, impact electrolyte levels.
Include normal values, main functions, and key manifestations related to imbalances (both hyper and hypo).
Use mnemonic devices for recall of signs/symptoms.
Importance:
Muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and maintaining fluid balance.
High Sodium Foods: Pickles, olives, processed meats, canned foods, and bread.
Mechanism: Sodium's movement dictates water retention and excretion.
Hyponatremia: Low sodium levels; leads to fluid shifts into cells, potentially causing confusion and weakness.
Hypernatremia: High sodium levels; leads to dehydration signs including agitation and elevated blood pressure.
Lab testing varies based on symptoms.
Suggestions include balanced diet, adequate hydration, isotonic drink consumption during fluid loss, and monitoring sodium intake.
Functions: Bone/teeth formation, muscle contraction, impulse transmission, and blood clotting.
Interplay with vitamin D and necessity for proper absorption noted.
High Calcium Foods: Include dairy products, leafy greens, and almonds.
Hypocalcemia: Arises from disorders like hypoparathyroidism or malabsorption; causes muscle spasms and tetany.
Hypercalcemia: Can result from neoplasms and hyperparathyroidism, leading to decreased neuromuscular activity and potential arrhythmias.
Emphasizes dietary management, sun exposure for vitamin D, and adherence to prescribed medications.
Vital for energy production, DNA/protein synthesis, and nerve function; closely tied to heart function.
Sources of Magnesium: Nuts, seeds, beans.
Disruptions in magnesium levels can lead to increased cardiac irritability or depressed neuromuscular conduction.
Symptoms reflect systemic unrest, including tiredness, anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, and muscle cramps.
Importance of balanced diets rich in green vegetables and adequate hydration is emphasized along with medication adherence.
Acts as a buffer for maintaining acid-base balance, osmotic pressure regulation, and contributing to gastric function.
Chloride-Rich Foods: Include table salt and various processed foods.
Generally, chloride levels correlate with sodium changes; signs of imbalances noted.
Essential as a major intracellular cation, vital for multiple bodily functions including nerve, muscle, and fluid balance.
Explains movement within cells via active/passive transport mechanisms ensuring the balance of sodium and potassium across membranes.
Hypokalemia: Can lead to intense muscle weakness and arrhythmias; monitoring advised.
Hyperkalemia: Risk of life-threatening cardiac complications necessitates urgent attention.
Strategies for low potassium levels include dietary management, while high levels may necessitate restriction or use of potassium-rich substitutes.
Specific foods promoting potassium intake—tomatoes, bananas, avocados, potatoes, and leafy greens listed as beneficial.
Age factors affecting potassium levels; infants and older adults particularly susceptible to imbalances based on body physiology.
Introduces pH scale, with designations for acidic, neutral, and basic substances, accompanied by physiological pH specifics.
Refers to decreased serum pH resulting in CNS depression; detailed breakdown of potential origins provided.
Includes comprehensive causes for respiratory and metabolic acidosis along with symptomatology affecting various bodily systems.
Overview of increased pH conditions, correlating causes that lead to hyperventilation or metabolic shifts.
Clarification of respiratory/metabolic factors contributing to state alteration, along with observable symptoms listed per system.
Presenting simultaneous comparisons of causes and symptoms of both acidosis and alkalosis as well as diagnostic insights.
Essential lab values for monitoring homeostasis in acid-base balance and various compensatory mechanisms are outlined with relevance.
Covers the body's method of addressing pH imbalances through buffering systems, respiratory regulation, and renal function adaptations.
Engaging in practical assessments to reinforce understanding of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance.
Introduction to the significance of bowel and urinary functions in maintaining homeostasis.
Description of the digestive system's components and their roles in breakdown, absorption, and waste elimination with neural regulation emphasized.
Overview of key hormones influencing gastric and intestinal motility, secretion, and overall digestive efficiency.
Describes developmental changes in elimination processes from infancy through older adulthood, alongside pregnancy impacts.
Highlights factors such as dietary habits and medications that lead to altered bowel habits, with corresponding symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
Addresses risk factors and causes of fecal incontinence, encompassing treatments and complications.
Differentiates between osmotic, small-volume, steatorrhea, and bloody diarrhea including common causative factors for each type.
Outline of symptoms indicating dehydration, along with treatment recommendations based on the specific underlying causes.
Comprehensive diagnostic strategies, including imaging options and laboratory analyses to pinpoint causes of diarrhea.
Emphasizes primary and secondary prevention methods including adequate hydration and screening measures.
Summarizes the anatomy involved in urinary elimination within the context of the excretory system.
Comprehensive list of factors that may respectively increase the risk for urinary incontinence.
Classifies urinary incontinence types along with specific causes and distinguishing factors for each type.
Describes observable signs of incontinence that affect daily life and personal comfort levels.
Treatment options to manage urinary incontinence and patient self-care strategies outlined.
Explains causes leading to acute and chronic urinary retention alongside treatment strategies.
Describes types of UTIs, principal symptoms, and treatment options.
Provides insight on inflammatory and obstructive disorders of the renal system with related symptoms and management strategies.
Overview of laboratory testing relevant for assessing renal function and detecting abnormalities in urinary health.
Focuses on maintaining hydration, dietary considerations, and preventive measures to promote urinary health.
Examines gastrointestinal anatomy and how obstructions can occur, affecting waste elimination.
Differentiates between mechanical and functional obstructions, elaborating on their causes and implications.
Highlights the diagnostic approaches and management options necessary for treating bowel obstructions effectively.
Discusses chronic kidney disease progression and its impact on overall health alongside risk factors.
Outlines mechanisms leading to kidney function deterioration and related systemic effects.
Stages classified based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), outlining implications at each level.
Lists common signs suggesting renal impairment, emphasizing the necessity of early detection.
Comprehensive look at causes leading to renal insufficiency and recommended diagnostic procedures.
Definition and categorization of acute kidney injury with respective causes identified.
Explains changes occurring in electrolyte levels as a result of renal insufficiency with clinical significance.
Suggests lifestyle modifications and clinical interventions aimed at preventing renal complications.
Overview of liver functions including detoxification, balancing glucose, and notable risk factors for liver disease.
Describes the spectrum of liver disease consequences based on cellular dysfunction.
Symptoms conveyed may mimic other conditions making early diagnosis challenging.
Key laboratory markers used to diagnose liver disease and monitor progression.
Clarifies symptoms occurring in various phases of hepatitis progression.
Classification of viral hepatitis and modes of transmission outlined.
Lifestyle adjustments and preventive measures necessary to combat liver disease manifestations.
Final consequences of ongoing liver cell damage leading to cirrhosis, the associated symptoms, and management options described.