Your Electrolytes! Why Are They So Important? Quiz

Answer: respiratory muscle weakness, cramps, and heart rhythm disturbances

Potassium is an important positively charged element which is important in muscle function, both cardiac and striated muscle. The change in the "electrical potential" across muscle cell membranes causes these problems, and the cardiac symptoms and signs can range from palpitations through irregular heartbeats and even cardiac arrest.

Answer: brain swelling

Hypernatremia causes the brain cells to "shrivel" as water leaves the brain cells to equilibrate the concentration of electrolyes between the brain and the fluid outside the brain. These shifts in fluid can lower the seizure threshold and cause altered mental status and seizures.

When the sodium level rises, there is an increase in the osmolarity of the blood, and osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus activate the thirst mechanism.

Answer: confusion, muscle weakness, and constipation

Ninety percent of sustained hypercalcemia is due to either a benign tumor of the parathyroid glands called a parathyroid adenoma, or cancer, which can produce a parathyroid hormone like activity. Ingestion of too much calcium over time, such as chronic antacid use, can raise the calcium level, but this is a quite minor cause of elevated calcium.

This is because of the strict control of blood levels by the interaction of the parathyroid hormone and the hormone calcitonin.

Answer: all of these

It is difficult to reabsorb chloride in the kidneys without reabsorbing sodium, so hypernatremia and hyperchloremia usually go together. Kussmaul's respirations are an attempt to rid the body of excess acid. The vomiting and diarrhea contribute to dehydration, which leads to hyperchloremia.

Answer: yes

The condition termed psychogenic polydipsia or primary polydipsia is most commonly associated with mental disorders and is usually triggered by a sensation of dry mouth. It can lower serum sodium levels to the point at which cardiac arrest or seizures occur, but this is rare. Excess beer drinking can also potentially cause significant electrolyte abnormalities, since beer is very low in electrolytes, but the amount needed to cause this means the person would be more likely to die from other causes, like liver disease.

Answer: Salt tablets in the absence of fluids

Salt tablets are exactly what they gave us in two-a-day summer football practices in full gear in mid-August (but that was ages ago).

Answer: Swell

To equalize the electrolyte balance between the blood and brain cells, excess fluid will flow into brain cells, causing swelling of the brain and increased intracranial pressure.

Answer: arsenic ingestion

Arsenic causes a low potassium level. Addison's disease affects the adrenal glands, which sit atop the kidney, by causing them to shrivel and stop producing substances that regulate electrolyte balance. President Kennedy had this condition. Kidney disease commonly causes high potassium levels, particularly in kidney failure, and abnormalities in heart rhythm (heart block, a defect in conduction of the electrical impulse, and a slow heart rate) are manifestations of hyperkalemia.

Answer: tingling around the mouth, spasms of the muscles of the hands and feet, and hyperactive reflexes

One can also observe facial twitching, particularly while tapping the cheek bone, and rashes.

Answer: magnesium

The common cause is the effect of magnesium on parathyroid hormone levels. The other answers are trace minerals also present in the body.