Electrolytes

Fluids and Electrolytes Name of the Student Institutional Affiliation Course Code and Course Name Professor Date of Submission Electrolytes 1 How water moves throughout the body Several processes, including osmosis, diffusion, and filtration, facilitate water circulation in the human body. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane from a solution with a lower concentration of solute particles towards a solution with a higher concentration of solute particles (Brinkman et al., 2023). This process is essential for maintaining the proper water levels and other soluble materials within the cell (Seay et al., 2020). Diffusion enables the movement of water and solutes within tissues and cells by creating a differential concentration gradient of nutrients and waste products. Filtration occurs in the kidneys, where blood pressure drives water and solutes through the glomerular membrane as part of urine production. 2 How the body loses water Urination: Studies show that the kidneys control the amount of water secreted from the body, depending on its water content (Wolf, 2024). Perspiration: Sweating is essential in controlling body temperature and leads to water loss. Respiration: Water is also expelled from the body during respiration and exhalation, especially when breathing in dry areas. Defecation: Since water is eliminated through the stool, it is even lost in feces if diarrhea is experienced. 3 Edema occurrence Increased Hydrostatic Pressure: Increased intravascular pressure pushes the fluid into the interstitial space, as demonstrated in conditions such as congestive heart failure. Decreased Oncotic Pressure: Low serum albumin levels diminish the osmotic pressure, which causes fluid to shift into the interstitial spaces, as seen in liver diseases or malnutrition (Lespasio, 2022). Increased Capillary Permeability: Capillaries can become permeable due to inflammation or injury, and proteins and fluid from these vessels can leak into the surrounding tissues. Lymphatic Obstruction: The obstruction of operational lymphatic vessels results in fluid backlog in tissues, which is common in cases of cancer or infections. 4 Signs and symptoms of fluid overload Edema: The build-up of interstitial fluid caused by high hydrostatic or low oncotic pressure (Brinkman et al., 2023). Weight Gain: A situation in which an individual gains a lot of weight quickly because of fluid accumulation. Hypertension: When blood volume increases, it puts high pressure on the blood vessels, causing high blood pressure. Shortness of Breath: Pulmonary edema can develop, which makes breathing difficult because the lungs fill with fluid. Jugular Venous Distension (JVD): Raised central venous pressure leads to distension of the superior and inferior venae cavae. 5 Clinical symptoms of fluid deficit Thirst: A symptom of water shortage in the body and a call to take water. Dry Mucosal Membranes: This decreases the volume of saliva and other secretions, which in turn dries the oral cavity and other mucosal membranes (Brinkman et al., 2023). Decreased Urine Output: Because of this, the kidneys help to retain water, thus having concentrated urine. Hypotension: Low blood volume means the heart pumps less blood, decreasing blood pressure. Tachycardia: The heart responds to low blood volume by increasing the rate of contraction to maintain cardiac output. 6 Water balance mechanisms in the body Thirst Mechanism: The hypothalamus section can measure osmolarity and trigger the process of thirst due to dehydration. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): Derived from the posterior pituitary, ADH acts as a vasopressor hormone that encourages water reabsorption by the kidneys, thus limiting urine formation (Karunarathna et al., 2024). Aldosterone: This hormone enhances sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, aiding water retention. Natriuretic Peptides: These directly aid in sodium and water loss, thus decreasing fluid build-up in the body. 7 Hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic. Hypotonic solution: This solution has a lesser concentration of solute than the other solution, resulting in an osmotic water influx into the cell. Hypertonic: A solution that is more concentrated than another solution, thus leading to dehydration of the affected cell due to water movement from the cell. Isotonic: When the concentrations of solutes in two solutions are the same, there will be no net water movement across the cell membranes. 8 Complete the following table: Electrolyte Alteration Lab Values How It Occurs (Causes) Wha...