Fluid Imbalances Discussion Assignment
Your written assignment for this module should be a 1–2-page paper (not including title page and reference page) that describes the following:
Describe what a fluid and electrolyte imbalance is and how this is important to the function of the body?
Pick a fluid or electrolyte imbalance and describe how the patient would present, in addition to the treatment (nursing and expected medical)? Fluid Imbalances Discussion Assignment
You should include a minimum of 3 scholarly references. Include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference page in APA format.
Electrolytes are chemicals that are responsible for the conduction of electricity when mixed with water. In the body, these chemicals regulate muscle and nerve function, balance blood pressure and acidity, hydrate the body, and help in rebuilding damaged tissue. The electrolytes present in the human body include potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate phosphate, and chloride. Muscles, for example, require sodium, calcium, and potassium to contract. Therefore, when electrolytes are imbalanced, it could lead to either excessive contraction or muscle weakness (Nardone et al., 2016).
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Electrolyte imbalance occurs when the level of an electrolyte in the blood either becomes too high or too low. Electrolyte levels often change in relation to water levels, among other factors. The concentration may also be affected by rapid loss of fluids, for instance, after vomiting or diarrhoea. Together with a number of hormones, the kidney works to regulate the levels of these electrolyte in the body. When levels are too high, the kidneys work to filter out the excess electrolyte from the blood while different hormones balance the levels (Rateau, 2019). Fluid Imbalances Discussion Assignment
Patients with electrolyte imbalances typically present with symptoms including fast heart rate, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, convulsions or seizures, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation (Giordano et al., 2016). Treatment for an electrolyte imbalance will typically involve intravenous fluids to replace the electrolytes. Minor imbalances may, however, be corrected by changes in diet. For instance, the consumption of potassium-rich foods can correct low levels of potassium. The same effect may be achieved through the restriction of water intake. Intravenous medications may also be prescribed for the restoration of electrolyte levels. In cases where a patient has high electrolyte levels, hemodialysis may be carried out. This form of dialysis utilizes machines to remove waste from the blood (Lee, 2010).
References
Giordano, M., Ciarambino, T., Castellino, P., Malatino, L., Di Somma, S., Biolo, G., … & Adinolfi, L. E. (2016). Diseases associated with electrolyte imbalance in the ED: age-related differences. The American journal of emergency medicine, 34(10), 1923-1926.
Lee, J. W. (2010). Fluid and electrolyte disturbances in critically ill patients. Electrolytes & Blood Pressure, 8(2), 72-81.
Nardone, R., Brigo, F., & Trinka, E. (2016). Acute symptomatic seizures caused by electrolyte disturbances. Journal of clinical neurology, 12(1), 21-33.
Rateau, M. R. (2019). Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalances. Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing E-Book: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems, Single Volume, 268. Fluid Imbalances Discussion Assignment