Electrolyte Imbalance
Select an electrolyte from the list in the document linked below. Using references that you may already have identified, indicate conditions caused by too much or too little of that electrolyte. In the first column with the identified electrolyte write the normal lab value range and cause of imbalance. After you have identified the hyper- and hypo- conditions, also identify treatment of those conditions.
Use at least one scholarly source to support your findings. Examples of scholarly sources include academic journals, textbooks, reference texts, and CINAHL nursing guides. Be sure to cite your sources in-text and on a References page using APA format.
ANSWER
Electrolyte Disorder -Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia.
The body requires some electrolytes to make sure that it functions properly and prevent deficiency diseases. The intake of these electrolytes, however, has to be normal. The intake of electrolytes should not be above the normal intake or below the normal intake (Palmer et.al 2019). Intake of abnormal levels of electrolytes will have negative effects to the human body which might lead to health disorders or even death (Palmer et.al 2019). Intake of potassium electrolyte in the body is very healthy and also advisable by medical practitioners. Identifying abnormal findings and treatment options for electrolyte imbalances is an expected function of a healthcare team. This paper will discuss potassium electrolyte in the human body.
Potassium is a mineral that your body requires in order to function correctly. It’s an electrolyte of some sort (Lin et.al 2020). It aids the operation of your nerves and the contraction of your muscles. It aids in the maintenance of a normal heartbeat. It also aids in the transport of nutrients and waste materials into and out of cells. Potassium-rich foods can assist to counteract some of sodium’s negative effects on blood pressure (Lin et.al 2020). Potassium also makes the bones and teeth to grow strong. Intake of potassium is also an added advantage to the body immunity which helps to fight disease-causing germs and pathogens.
The normal range of the lab value is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
| PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE DISORDER: | |
| Hyper; Excessive intake of potassium causes hyperkalemia (high potassium). This condition may cause heart attack which may lead to death (Palmer et.al 2019). It is hard to tell when you potassium level is high. | Hypo; fewer intakes of potassium causes negative effects on the body (Palmer et.al 2019). It causes a disorder called hypokalemia (low potassium). Low potassium levels in the body may also cause abnormal heartbeats |
| Sources; Palmer, B. F., & Clegg, D. J. (2019). Physiology and pathophysiology of potassium homeostasis: core curriculum 2019. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 74(5), 682-695. | |
| ETIOLOGY: |
| Hyper; Potassium is filtered by your kidneys from the meals and beverages you ingest. When you urinate, your body flushes out extra potassium (Farooque et.al 2020). Your body has too much potassium for your kidneys to eliminate in hyperkalemia. As a result, potassium levels in the blood rise. |
| Hypo; When medications induce the kidneys to flush excess salt, water, and potassium, too much potassium might be secreted in urine a condition referred to as diuresis |
| Sources; Farooque, U., Cheema, A. Y., Kumar, R., Saini, G., & Kataria, S. (2020). Primary Periodic Paralyses: A Review of Etiologies and Their Pathogeneses. Cureus, 12(8). |
| CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: |
| Hyper; Many patients with hyperkalemia have no symptoms or have symptoms that are easily overlooked (Lin et.al 2020) . Symptoms may appear and disappear over the course of weeks or months. Potassium levels that are dangerously high have an adverse effect on the heart and can cause long term complications (Lin et.al 2020). Some of other symptoms of hyperkalemia may include; vomiting, chest pains, diarrhea and muscle weakness. |
| Hypo;
When the levels of potassium are low in the body the following conditions may develop; muscles to become weak that they might even break easily, strain and shivering, or even paralysis |
| Sources; Lin, C. S., Lin, C., Fang, W. H., Hsu, C. J., Chen, S. J., Huang, K. H., … & Lin, S. H. (2020). A deep-learning algorithm (ECG12Net) for detecting hypokalemia and hyperkalemia by electrocardiography: Algorithm development. JMIR medical informatics, 8(3), e15931. |
| TREATMENT: | |
| Hyper;
A low-potassium diet is the greatest method to safeguard your health if you’ve experienced hyperkalemia or are at risk for it (Desai et.al 2018). Certain high-potassium foods may need to be reduced or eliminated entirely.
|
Hypo;
The condition of having low levels of potassium in the body can be treated by taking food that is rich in potassium
|
| Source; Desai, A. S., Liu, J., Pfeffer, M. A., Claggett, B., Fleg, J., Lewis, E. F., … & Pitt, B. (2018). Incident hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, and clinical outcomes during spironolactone treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: analysis of the TOPCAT trial. Journal of cardiac failure, 24(5), 313-320. | |
References
Desai, A. S., Liu, J., Pfeffer, M. A., Claggett, B., Fleg, J., Lewis, E. F., … & Pitt, B. (2018). Incident hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, and clinical outcomes during spironolactone treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: analysis of the TOPCAT trial. Journal of cardiac failure, 24(5), 313-320
Farooque, U., Cheema, A. Y., Kumar, R., Saini, G., & Kataria, S. (2020). Primary Periodic Paralyses: A Review of Etiologies and Their Pathogeneses. Cureus, 12(8).
Lin, C. S., Lin, C., Fang, W. H., Hsu, C. J., Chen, S. J., Huang, K. H., … & Lin, S. H. (2020). A deep-learning algorithm (ECG12Net) for detecting hypokalemia and hyperkalemia by electrocardiography: Algorithm development. JMIR medical informatics, 8(3), e15931
Palmer, B. F., & Clegg, D. J. (2019). Physiology and pathophysiology of potassium homeostasis: core curriculum 2019. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 74(5), 682-695.
