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    Electrolyte Imbalance, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Electrolyte Imbalance, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Electrolyte Imbalance, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Ebook212 pages2 hours

    Electrolyte Imbalance, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

    By Kenneth Kee

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    About this ebook

    This book describes Electrolyte Imbalance, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

    Electrolyte imbalance in the body can produce fluctuations in the important electrolytes such as sodium and potassium which can affect the heart and kidney functions adversely.

    Electrolyte Imbalance Diseases are medical disorders which are involved by the alterations in the balance of sodium and potassium in the blood.

    Common diseases are:
    1. Hyponatremia or Low Sodium is caused by water intoxication.
    2. Hypernatremia or High Sodium is normally linked with dehydration.
    3. Hypokalemia or Low Potassium happens when the body loses too much potassium from vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and medicines like diuretics or laxatives.
    4. Hyperkalemia or High Potassium is a life-threatening disorder which produces abnormal electrical conduction in the heart and possibly life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

    Electrolytes are chemicals that are necessary for the cells in the body to function.

    Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and others are required in permitting cells to:
    1. Generate energy,
    2. Maintain the stability of their walls,
    3. Contract muscles

    They are monitored by hormones like
    1. Renin from the kidney,
    2. Angiotensin from the lung, brain and heart,
    3. Aldosterone from the adrenal gland, and
    4. Antidiuretic hormone from the pituitary

    These hormones monitor the amount of sodium, potassium, and water in the bloodstream and keep the electrolyte balance within a very narrow range of normal limits for the body to function.

    Ensuring that the electrolyte concentrations are in good balance, stops the body from dehydration.

    Electrolytes are important for basic life function such as maintaining electrical neutrality in the cells, generation, and conduction of action potentials in the nerves and muscles.

    Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the important electrolytes together with magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates.

    Electrolytes are obtained from the food and fluids.

    These electrolytes can develop an imbalance, causing either high or low levels.

    A high or a low level of electrolytes interferes with the normal bodily functions and can cause even life-threatening complications.

    The measurement of electrolytes will help the doctors in the diagnosis of a medical disorder, the effectiveness of treatment and the possible side effect of medicines.

    A patient with heart failure receiving diuretics requires a workup for potassium, bicarbonate, magnesium as diuretics can produce adverse effects on electrolyte balance

    A patient that manifests with weakness requires a basic electrolyte workup, as an electrolyte imbalance, particularly in sodium and potassium levels, can cause fatigue

    Hypomagnesemia can cause hypocalcemia as it disrupts the action of parathormone.

    Administration of intravenous insulin is linked with a spurious reduction in potassium levels as insulin moves potassium intra-cellularly.

    Most of the calcium is attached to proteins, out of which albumin-bound calcium comprises 80%.

    In a patient with hypoalbuminemia as present in liver cirrhosis, the nephrotic syndrome will have low calcium levels as compared to the actual values.

    Treatment

    1. Remove causes:

    2. Restore low electrolyte levels

    3. Assess electrolyte levels during hospital stay

    4. Eliminate high electrolyte levels

    a. Diuretics to raise electrolyte excretion in the urine.
    b. Cation-exchange resins are drugs that attach to electrolyte and cause its elimination via the gastrointestinal tract.

    Hemodialysis

    If the patient has high electrolyte due to kidney failure, hemodialysis is the best treatment method.

    TABLE OF CONTENT
    Introduction
    Chapter 1 Electrolyte Imbalance
    Chapter 2 Hyponatremia
    Chapter 3 Hypokalemia
    Chapter 4 Hyperkalemia

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKenneth Kee
    Release dateFeb 21, 2020
    ISBN9780463162224
    Electrolyte Imbalance, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Author

    Kenneth Kee

    Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

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      Book preview

      Electrolyte Imbalance, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions - Kenneth Kee

      Electrolyte Imbalance,

      A

      Simple

      Guide

      To

      The Condition,

      Diagnosis,

      Treatment

      And

      Related Conditions

      By

      Dr Kenneth Kee

      M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

      Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

      Copyright Kenneth Kee 2020 Smashwords Edition

      Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

      Dedication

      This book is dedicated

      To my wife Dorothy

      And my children

      Carolyn, Grace

      And Kelvin

      This book describes Electrolyte Imbalance, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

      (What You Need to Treat Electrolyte Imbalance)

      This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

      If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

      Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Introduction

      I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

      My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

      Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

      I then wrote an autobiography account of my journey as a medical student to family doctor on my other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

      This autobiography account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

      From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

      Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

      For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

      The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

      The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

      Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

      As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

      Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

      I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

      I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

      I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

      Chapter 1

      Electrolyte Imbalance

      Electrolyte imbalance in the body can produce fluctuations in the important electrolytes such as sodium and potassium which can affect the heart and kidney functions adversely.

      What are Electrolyte Imbalance Diseases?

      Electrolyte Imbalance Diseases are medical disorders which are involved by the alterations in the balance of sodium and potassium in the blood.

      Common diseases are:

      1. Hyponatremia or Low Sodium is caused by water intoxication.

      2. Hypernatremia or High Sodium is normally linked with dehydration.

      3. Hypokalemia or Low Potassium happens when the body loses too much potassium from vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and medicines like diuretics or laxatives.

      4. Hyperkalemia or High Potassium is a life-threatening disorder which produces abnormal electrical conduction in the heart and possibly life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

      Electrolytes are chemicals that are necessary for the cells in the body to function.

      Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and others are required in permitting cells to:

      1. Generate energy,

      2. Maintain the stability of their walls,

      3. Contract muscles

      They are monitored by hormones like

      1. Renin from the kidney,

      2. Angiotensin from the lung, brain and heart,

      3. Aldosterone from the adrenal gland, and

      4. Antidiuretic hormone from the pituitary

      These hormones monitor the amount of sodium, potassium, and water in the bloodstream and keep the electrolyte balance within a very narrow range of normal limits for the body to function.

      Ensuring that the electrolyte concentrations are in good balance, stops the body from dehydration.

      Electrolytes are important for basic life function such as maintaining electrical neutrality in the cells, generation, and conduction of action potentials in the nerves and muscles.

      Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the important electrolytes together with magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates.

      Electrolytes are obtained from the food and fluids.

      These electrolytes can develop an imbalance, causing either high or low levels.

      A high or a low level of electrolytes interferes with the normal bodily functions and can cause even life-threatening complications.

      Potassium

      Potassium is present mostly inside the cells of the body (intracellular ion).

      The difference in concentration from within the cell compared to the plasma is necessary in the generation of the electrical impulses in the nerves of the body that allow muscles and the brain to function.

      The sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase pump is primarily responsible for regulating the homeostasis between sodium and potassium which pumps out sodium in exchange for potassium which moves into the cells.

      In the kidneys, filtration of potassium takes place at the glomerulus.

      Reabsorption of potassium takes place at the proximal convoluted tubule and thick ascending loop of Henle.

      Potassium secretion takes place at the distal convoluted tubule.

      Aldosterone increases potassium secretion.

      Potassium channels and potassium-chloride co-transporters at the apical membrane also secrete potassium.

      Potassium disorders are related to cardiac arrhythmias.

      Hypo-kalemia happens when serum potassium levels under 3.5 mmol/L.

      Weakness, fatigue and muscle twitching are present in hypokalemia.

      Hyper-kalemia happens when the serum potassium levels above 5.5 mmol/L which can result in arrhythmias.

      Muscle cramps, muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis (muscle tissue death), myoglobinuria (myoglobin in the urine) are manifesting signs and symptoms in hyper-kalemia.

      Conditions of Potassium Imbalance

      Hyper-kalemia (too much potassium in the blood) is life-threatening since it produces abnormal electrical conduction in the heart and possibly life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

      High potassium levels are often linked with kidney failure, in which potassium levels build up and cannot be excreted in the urine.

      Medicines can be given to lower potassium levels until the kidneys are able to pass out the excess in the urine.

      Emergency hemodialysis may be required to eliminate the potassium if kidney function is poor.

      Hypokalemia (too little potassium) is most often seen when the body loses too much potassium from causes like vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and medications like diuretics or laxatives.

      It is one of the symptoms in diabetic ketoacidosis, where potassium is lost in the urine.

      Sodium

      Sodium dissimilar to potassium is most often present outside the cell in the plasma or the non-cell part of the bloodstream.

      It has an important function of water regulation in the body.

      If there is excess sodium in the body, due to high salt intake, it is excreted by the kidney, and water follows.

      Sodium is an important electrolyte that assists with electrical signals in the body, permitting muscles to fire and the brain to function.

      It is half of the electrical pump at the cell level that maintains sodium in the plasma and potassium inside the cell.

      It is accountable for maintaining the extra-cellular fluid volume, and also for control of the membrane potential of cells.

      Sodium is transferred along with potassium across cell membranes as part of active movement.

      Sodium control happens in the kidneys.

      The proximal tubule is where the large proportion of the sodium reabsorption

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