Electrolyte Balance and Nutrition Quiz

Electrolyte Imbalances: NCM118

• Calcium (Ca⁺):

  • Aids in bone and tooth formation, muscle function, enzyme activity, blood clotting, and heart rhythm.
  • Regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin.
  • Inverse relationship with phosphorus.
  • Similar to vitamin D and magnesium.
  • Normal range: 9-11 mg/dL.
  • High Calcium foods (Encourage): Dairy, sardines, green leafy vegetables, spinach, Brazil nuts, canned salmon.

• Magnesium (Mg⁺):

  • Regulates muscle contractions, nerve function, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
  • Essential for protein, bone, and DNA production.
  • Normal range: 1.5-2.5 mg/dL.
  • High Magnesium foods (Encourage): Pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, spinach, avocados, Brazil nuts.

• Sodium (Na⁺):

  • Major extracellular cation.
  • Maintains acid-base and fluid balance, nerve and muscle function, and blood pressure.
  • Inverse relationship with potassium.
  • Normal range: 135-145 mEq/L.
  • High Sodium foods (Encourage): Soups, canned goods, ham, bacon, sausage, processed foods, cheese, dressings, pizza, hot dogs.

• Potassium (K⁺):

  • Major intracellular cation.
  • Regulates fluid balance, muscle contractions, and blood pressure.
  • Sends nerve impulses.
  • Inverse relationship with sodium.
  • Similar to magnesium.
  • Normal range: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L.
  • High Potassium foods (Encourage): Baked potato, sweet potato, banana, avocado, watermelon, spinach, canned clams

• Phosphorus (PO₄):

  • Crucial for bone and tooth formation, nerve function, energy production, and muscle contraction.
  • 85% of phosphorus is in bone.
  • Inverse relationship with calcium.
  • Vitamin D aids in phosphorus absorption.
  • Normal range: 2.5-4.5 mg/dL.
  • High Phosphorus foods (Encourage): Milk, cheese, egg yolks, chocolate, soft drinks, fish, beef, chicken, nuts, and beans.

Hypernatremia

• Sodium levels >145 mEq/L
• Associated symptoms include thirst, restlessness, agitation.
• Causes include excess oral or intravenous sodium intake, excess hypertonic IV fluids, increased sodium excretion (vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sweating), and impaired thirst.
• Management may include decreasing oral sodium intake, decreased fluid intake, administering IV fluids slowly if due to fluid loss, or using diuretics if due to decreased excretion of sodium.

Hyponatremia

• Sodium levels <135 mEq/L
• Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting.
• Causes include increased sodium excretion, vomiting, diarrhea, diuretics, and fluid overload.
• Management involves increasing oral sodium intake, or intravenous sodium infusions in critical situations (low rates to avoid overloading).

Hyperkalemia

• Potassium levels >5.0 mEq/L
• Symptoms include irregular heartbeat, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps.
• Causes include certain diuretics, kidney disease, and excessive potassium intake.
• Management includes decreasing potassium intake, and using diuretics.

Hypokalemia

• Potassium levels <3.5 mEq/L
• Symptoms include weakness, hypoactive bowel sounds, thready pulse, muscle leg cramps.
• Causes include diuretics, vomiting, diarrhea, and drains.
• Management includes oral potassium supplements, and IV potassium in specific circumstances.

Hypercalcemia

• Calcium levels >11 mg/dL
• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, decreased deep tendon reflexes, anorexia, arrhythmias, and excessive urination.
• Causes are diverse, including hyperparathyroidism or malignancy.
• Management usually involves encouraging foods low in calcium, or medication to regulate calcium levels.

Hypocalcemia

• Calcium levels <9 mg/dL
• Symptoms include tingling in fingers and toes, muscle cramps, spasms, or tetany.
• Causes can range from decreased magnesium levels to insufficient calcium intake, or increased phosphorus levels.
• Management may involve encouraging calcium containing foods, or medication as necessary.

Hypermagnesemia

• Magnesium levels >2.5 mg/dL
• Symptoms include hypotension, decreased reflexes, lethargy, slowed breathing or bradypnea, and/or vomiting.
• Causes may be related to kidney failure or excessive Magnesium intake.
• Management focuses on reducing magnesium intake or using medication as a last resort.

Hypomagnesemia

• Magnesium levels <1.5 mg/dL
• Symptoms include hyperreflexia, seizures, lethargy, or tachycardia.
• Causes include chronic alcohol problems, or malnutrition.
• Management often involves promoting proper intake of magnesium containing foods or magnesium supplements, and correcting any contributing factors.

Hyperphosphatemia

• Phosphorus levels >4.5 mg/dL
• Symptoms are widespread and can be bone pain, muscle spasms, and/or itching.
• Causes can be related to various conditions that impact kidney function.
• Management primarily involves reducing high phosphorus food intake or using medication as a last resource.

Hypophosphatemia

• Phosphorus levels <2.5 mg/dL
• Symptoms may include confusion, bone pain, irritability, or loss of appetite.
• Causes can overlap diverse conditions affecting various organ systems.
• Management often involves correcting the underlying factors and increasing phosphorus intake through food.