Electrolytes Essay

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Introduction
Proper organ function is dependent on keeping the correct balance of fluid and electrolytes within each body fluid space. There are many different electrolytes in the body. The most common ones are calcium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, phosphate and magnesium. Most electrolytes enter the body in ingested food. One of electrolytes, I would like to discuss in this paper is sodium. I choose sodium electrolyte because our bodies use sodium to control blood volume and blood pressure. Sodium is also needed for our muscles and nerves to work properly. Electrolytes levels in our bodies can become too high or low. That usually happen when the amount of water in our bodies changes, causing dehydration or over-hydration. To understanding more about sodium level, I explain more about the pathophysiology of hypernatremia and hyponatremia in the body.

According to Ignatavicius and Workman (2006), electrolytes, or ions, are substances in body fluids that carry an electrical charge. Cations have positive charges; anions have negative charges. For homeostasis, the total cations in the body are normally equal to the total anions. In health people, the milliequivalents (mEq) per liter for electrolytes in the body vary within a relatively narrow range. However, the distribution of ions differs between the extracellular fluid (ECF) and the intracellular fluid (ICF). Most electrolytes have different concentrations in the ECF and ICF. When electrolytes are no in balance, the patient is at risk for alterations in health because electrolytes regulate distribution and acid-base balance, and maintain a balanced degree of neuromuscular excitability.

Sodium is the major positive ion in fluid outside of cells (extracellular fluid) and is respo...

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...art disease and stroke. Patients with high blood pressure, kidney or cardiac problems, and other medical conditions need to avoid sodium. Hypernatremia can be prevented or corrected by ensuring adequate water intake among older adults or those who may not have self-access to water dietary sodium restriction may be needed to prevent sodium excess when renal problems are present. Drug therapies can aim to prevent further increases in serum sodium and decrease high serum sodium levels.
Conclusion
Sodium is an important electrolyte in our body because it helps to maintain body fluid homeostasis. It also helps to regulate the amount of water in our body organ. If too much or too low sodium level can cause cells to malfunction, and can lead to fatal. So be careful more a about what you eat and always consult with the physician if we have any question about health diet.

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