Electrolyte Imbalances Overview

Electrolyte Imbalances

• Electrolyte imbalances occur when the balance of electrolytes in the body is disrupted.
• Imbalances can affect various bodily functions.
• Hypernatremia: Serum sodium concentration greater than 145 mEq/L. Possible outcomes include headache, confusion, seizures, and in severe cases coma and death.
• Hyponatremia: Serum sodium concentration below 136 mEq/L. Possible outcomes involve various symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headache, and weakness.
• Hyperkalemia: Blood potassium concentration exceeding 5.1 mEq/L. Possible outcomes include weakening and paralysis of muscles, cardiac dysrhythmia, or arrest. This is caused by excessive intake or shift from intracellular to extracellular fluid.
• Hypokalemia: Blood potassium concentration below 3.5 mEq/L. Outcomes might include muscle weakness, diminished reflexes and impaired cardiac conduction. This can happen due to fasting, low potassium diets, laxative abuse, and diuretics.
• Hypercalcemia: Serum calcium concentration greater than 5.25 mEq/L. Potential outcomes include muscle weakness, diminished reflexes, cardiac dysrhythmia, muscle cramping, cardiac dysrhythmia. Increased calcium may come from vitamin D overdose or hyperparathyroidism.
• Hypocalcemia: Serum calcium concentration below 4.2 mEq/L. Possible outcomes include muscle cramping and twitching, hyperactive reflexes, muscle spasms, and tetany. This can stem from dietary deficiencies, decreased absorption, or increased excretion.
• These imbalances can affect various body systems, such as central nervous system function and cardiac performance. Imbalances can affect the heart's functioning causing conditions like cardiac arrest or dysrhythmias, as well as central nervous system functioning resulting potentially causing coma and death due to disrupted nerve signals.

Potassium Imbalance

• Normal potassium levels range from 3.5 to 5.1 mEq/L.
• Potassium imbalance can cause serious health issues.
• Hyperkalemia can lead to muscle weakness, and paralysis up to cardiac arrest. This can stem from excessive intake or a shift of potassium from inside cells to the blood.
• Hypokalemia can impact muscle function and lead to cardiac irregularities. Causes include fasting, fad diets low in potassium, laxative abuse, and diuretics.
• These imbalances can have severe consequences including coma and death. Potassium imbalances can affect CNS function, potentially leading to seizures, confusion, and coma.

Sodium Imbalance

• Sodium, known as natrium in Latin, plays a crucial role in body function.
• Hypernatremia, characterized by elevated sodium levels, may result from excessive salt intake, dehydration, or diarrhea.
• Hyponatremia, characterized by reduced sodium levels, often arises from water intoxication, excessive fluid intake, or insufficient salt intake.
• Both conditions can disrupt normal body functions resulting in various symptoms such as headache, nausea, muscle weakness, and cardiac irregularities. Both can cause seizures and coma as the nerve signals are interrupted and muscles can't function normally.