Electrolyte Imbalances (Na, Ca, K, Mg) - Medical-Surgical - Cardiovascular | @LevelUpRN

Level Up RN2 minutes read

Understanding electrolyte imbalances like sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium is crucial for medical fields, with each having specific normal ranges, causes, symptoms, and treatments. Specific signs like Chvostek's and Trousseau's indicate certain imbalances, dysrhythmia is a common effect of potassium imbalances, while hypomagnesemia presents with hypertension and increased reflexes, not decreased as commonly thought.

Insights

  • Understanding the normal ranges and potential imbalances of electrolytes like sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium is crucial for medical-surgical care, foundational knowledge, and nutritional considerations.
  • Specific symptoms, causes, and treatments for electrolyte imbalances such as hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, hypermagnesemia, and hypomagnesemia are essential to recognize and address promptly in clinical practice to prevent adverse outcomes.

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Recent questions

  • What are common electrolytes in the body?

    Sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium.

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Summary

00:00

Understanding Electrolytes in Medical Practice

  • Electrolytes discussed in the video: sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
  • Importance of knowing electrolytes for Med-Surg, fundamentals, and nutrition.
  • Sodium: normal range 136-145, hypernatremia above 145, causes, symptoms, treatment.
  • Hyponatremia: below 136, causes, symptoms, treatment.
  • Calcium: normal range 9-10.5, hypercalcemia above 10.5, causes, symptoms, treatment.
  • Hypocalcemia: under 9, causes, signs, symptoms, treatment.
  • Potassium: normal range 3.2-5, hyperkalemia above 5, causes, symptoms, treatment.
  • Hypokalemia: under 3.5, causes, signs, symptoms, treatment.
  • Magnesium: normal range 1.3-2.1, hypermagnesemia above 2.1, causes, symptoms, treatment.
  • Hypomagnesemia: below 1.3, causes, signs, symptoms, treatment.

14:35

"Symptoms and Treatment of Hypomagnesemia"

  • Hypomagnesemia presents with symptoms such as hypertension, increased deep tendon reflexes, tremors, and seizures due to low magnesium levels, requiring treatment with magnesium supplements orally or intravenously, along with a diet rich in magnesium.
  • A positive Chvostek's and Trousseau's sign indicate hypocalcemia, dysrhythmia is a key side effect of hyperkalemia and hypokalemia, and signs and symptoms of hypomagnesemia include hypertension and increased deep tendon reflexes, contrary to the common belief of decreased reflexes.
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