Electrolyte Balance and Nutrition Quiz

Study Notes

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.