Educatuon Barthélemy Garlic for. What is an Electrolyte Electrolyte balance education and How Can You Prevent It? In severe cases, you may need dialysis to filter out the electrolyte. Exam Information HESI NCLEX ATI.

Video

Are Your Kidneys BEGGING for Help? Watch Out for These 10 Signs

Electrolyte balance education -

Thus, over 90 percent of the CO 2 is converted into bicarbonate ions, HCO 3 — , through the following reactions:. The bidirectional arrows indicate that the reactions can go in either direction, depending on the concentrations of the reactants and products. Carbon dioxide is produced in large amounts in tissues that have a high metabolic rate.

Carbon dioxide is converted into bicarbonate in the cytoplasm of red blood cells through the action of an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase. Bicarbonate is transported in the blood. Once in the lungs, the reactions reverse direction, and CO 2 is regenerated from bicarbonate to be exhaled as metabolic waste.

About two pounds of calcium in your body are bound up in bone, which provides hardness to the bone and serves as a mineral reserve for calcium and its salts for the rest of the tissues. Teeth also have a high concentration of calcium within them. A little more than one-half of blood calcium is bound to proteins, leaving the rest in its ionized form.

In addition, calcium helps to stabilize cell membranes and is essential for the release of neurotransmitters from neurons and of hormones from endocrine glands. Calcium is absorbed through the intestines under the influence of activated vitamin D.

A deficiency of vitamin D leads to a decrease in absorbed calcium and, eventually, a depletion of calcium stores from the skeletal system, potentially leading to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, contributing to osteoporosis.

Hypocalcemia , or abnormally low calcium blood levels, is seen in hypoparathyroidism, which may follow the removal of the thyroid gland, because the four nodules of the parathyroid gland are embedded in it. This can lead to cardiac depression, increased neuromuscular excitability, muscular cramps, and skeltal weakness.

Hypercalcemia , or abnormally high calcium blood levels, is seen in primary hyperparathyroidism. This can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and arrest, muscle weakness, CNS confusion, and coma. Some malignancies may also result in hypercalcemia. Phosphate is found in phospholipids, such as those that make up the cell membrane, and in ATP, nucleotides, and buffers.

Hypophosphatemia , or abnormally low phosphate blood levels, occurs with heavy use of antacids, during alcohol withdrawal, and during malnourishment. In the face of phosphate depletion, the kidneys usually conserve phosphate, but during starvation, this conservation is impaired greatly.

Hyperphosphatemia , or abnormally increased levels of phosphates in the blood, occurs if there is decreased renal function or in cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Additionally, because phosphate is a major constituent of the ICF, any significant destruction of cells can result in dumping of phosphate into the ECF. Sodium is reabsorbed from the renal filtrate, and potassium is excreted into the filtrate in the renal collecting tubule.

The control of this exchange is governed principally by two hormones—aldosterone and angiotensin II. Recall that aldosterone increases the excretion of potassium and the reabsorption of sodium in the distal tubule.

Aldosterone is released if blood levels of potassium increase, if blood levels of sodium severely decrease, or if blood pressure decreases. Its net effect is to conserve and increase water levels in the plasma by reducing the excretion of sodium, and thus water, from the kidneys.

In a negative feedback loop, increased osmolality of the ECF which follows aldosterone-stimulated sodium absorption inhibits the release of the hormone Figure Angiotensin II causes vasoconstriction and an increase in systemic blood pressure.

Angiotensin II also signals an increase in the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. In the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidneys, aldosterone stimulates the synthesis and activation of the sodium-potassium pump Figure Sodium passes from the filtrate, into and through the cells of the tubules and ducts, into the ECF and then into capillaries.

Water follows the sodium due to osmosis. Thus, aldosterone causes an increase in blood sodium levels and blood volume. Calcium and phosphate are both regulated through the actions of three hormones: parathyroid hormone PTH , dihydroxyvitamin D calcitriol , and calcitonin.

All three are released or synthesized in response to the blood levels of calcium. PTH is released from the parathyroid gland in response to a decrease in the concentration of blood calcium. The hormone activates osteoclasts to break down bone matrix and release inorganic calcium-phosphate salts.

PTH also increases the gastrointestinal absorption of dietary calcium by converting vitamin D into dihydroxyvitamin D calcitriol , an active form of vitamin D that intestinal epithelial cells require to absorb calcium.

PTH raises blood calcium levels by inhibiting the loss of calcium through the kidneys. PTH also increases the loss of phosphate through the kidneys. Calcitonin is released from the thyroid gland in response to elevated blood levels of calcium.

The hormone increases the activity of osteoblasts, which remove calcium from the blood and incorporate calcium into the bony matrix. Electrolytes serve various purposes, such as helping to conduct electrical impulses along cell membranes in neurons and muscles, stabilizing enzyme structures, and releasing hormones from endocrine glands.

The ions in plasma also contribute to the osmotic balance that controls the movement of water between cells and their environment.

Imbalances of these ions can result in various problems in the body, and their concentrations are tightly regulated. Aldosterone and angiotensin II control the exchange of sodium and potassium between the renal filtrate and the renal collecting tubule.

Calcium and phosphate are regulated by PTH, calcitrol, and calcitonin. Drinking seawater dehydrates the body as the body must pass sodium through the kidneys, and water follows. Explain how the CO 2 generated by cells and exhaled in the lungs is carried as bicarbonate in the blood.

How can one have an imbalance in a substance, but not actually have elevated or deficient levels of that substance in the body? This edition, with revised content and artwork, is licensed under CC BY-SA except where otherwise noted. Biga, Staci Bronson, Sierra Dawson, Amy Harwell, Robin Hopkins, Joel Kaufmann, Mike LeMaster, Philip Matern, Katie Morrison-Graham, Kristen Oja, Devon Quick, Jon Runyeon, OSU OERU, and OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.

Skip to content Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: List the role of the six most important electrolytes in the body Name the disorders associated with abnormally high and low levels of the six electrolytes Identify the predominant extracellular anion Describe the role of aldosterone on the level of water in the body.

External Website Watch this video to see an explanation of the effect of seawater on humans. Chapter Review Electrolytes serve various purposes, such as helping to conduct electrical impulses along cell membranes in neurons and muscles, stabilizing enzyme structures, and releasing hormones from endocrine glands.

Interactive Link Questions Watch this video to see an explanation of the effect of seawater on humans. Review Questions. Critical Thinking Questions 1. Glossary dihydroxyvitamin D active form of vitamin D required by the intestinal epithelial cells for the absorption of calcium hypercalcemia abnormally increased blood levels of calcium hyperchloremia higher-than-normal blood chloride levels hyperkalemia higher-than-normal blood potassium levels hypernatremia abnormal increase in blood sodium levels hyperphosphatemia abnormally increased blood phosphate levels hypocalcemia abnormally low blood levels of calcium hypochloremia lower-than-normal blood chloride levels hypokalemia abnormally decreased blood levels of potassium hyponatremia lower-than-normal levels of sodium in the blood hypophosphatemia abnormally low blood phosphate levels.

Solutions Answers for Critical Thinking Questions Very little of the carbon dioxide in the blood is carried dissolved in the plasma. It is transformed into carbonic acid and then into bicarbonate in order to mix in plasma for transportation to the lungs, where it reverts back to its gaseous form.

Without having an absolute excess or deficiency of a substance, one can have too much or too little of that substance in a given compartment.

This may be due to the loss of water in the blood, leading to a hemoconcentration or dilution of the ion in tissues due to edema. Previous: Next: Examples of electrolytes include:.

A loss of bodily fluids most often causes an electrolyte imbalance. This can happen after prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating, due to an illness, for example.

It can also be caused by:. Calcium is a vital mineral that your body uses to stabilize blood pressure and control skeletal muscle contraction. Hypercalcemia occurs when you have too much calcium in the blood. This is usually caused by the following:.

Hypocalcemia occurs due to a lack of adequate calcium in the bloodstream. Causes can include:. It can happen as a result of the following:. Causes include:.

Magnesium is a critical mineral that regulates many important functions, such as:. Hypermagnesemia means excess amounts of magnesium.

It primarily affects people with acute or chronic kidney disease. Hypomagnesemia means having too little magnesium in the body. Common causes include:. The kidneys , bones, and intestines balance phosphate levels in the body. Phosphate is necessary for various functions and interacts closely with calcium.

Hyperphosphatemia can occur due to the following:. Low levels of phosphate, or hypophosphatemia, can be seen in:. Potassium is particularly important for regulating heart function. It also helps maintain healthy nerves and muscles.

Hyperkalemia may develop due to high levels of potassium. This condition can be fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated. Hypokalemia occurs when potassium levels are too low.

This happens as a result of the following:. Sodium is necessary for the body to maintain fluid balance and is critical for appropriate body function. It also helps to regulate nerve function and muscle contraction. Abnormally high levels of sodium are often caused by severe dehydration, which can be caused by:.

Common causes of low sodium levels include:. Mild electrolyte imbalance may not cause any symptoms. This can go undetected until discovered during a routine blood test. Symptoms usually start to appear once a particular imbalance becomes more severe.

Possible symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance include:. Electrolyte disturbances can become life threatening if left untreated. Treatment varies depending on the type of electrolyte imbalance and the underlying condition causing it.

Certain treatments are generally used to restore the proper balance of minerals in the body. These include:. Intravenous IV fluids , typically containing sodium chloride, can help rehydrate the body.

This treatment is commonly used in cases of dehydration resulting from vomiting or diarrhea. Electrolyte supplements can be added to IV fluids to correct deficiencies. IV medications can help your body restore electrolyte balance quickly. They can also protect you from negative effects while being treated by another method.

The medication you receive will depend on the electrolyte imbalance you have. Medications that may be administered include calcium gluconate, magnesium sulfate, and potassium chloride. Oral medications and supplements are often used to correct chronic mineral abnormalities in your body.

These can help replace depleted electrolytes on a short- or long-term basis, depending on the underlying cause of your disorder. To correct the imbalance, your doctor will usually treat the underlying cause.

One way to get the blood to flow to this artificial kidney is for your doctor to surgically create a vascular access, or an entrance point, into your blood vessels. This entrance point will allow a larger amount of blood to flow through your body during hemodialysis treatment.

This means more blood can be filtered and purified. Hemodialysis can be used to treat an electrolyte imbalance. Your doctor may also decide on hemodialysis treatment if the electrolyte problem has become life threatening. A simple blood test can measure the levels of electrolytes in your body.

A blood test that looks at your kidney function is important as well. Your doctor may want to perform a physical exam or order extra tests to confirm a suspected electrolyte imbalance.

These additional tests will vary depending on the condition in question. For example, hypernatremia too much sodium can cause skin elasticity loss due to significant dehydration. Your doctor can perform a pinch test to determine whether dehydration affects you.

An electrocardiogram ECG or EKG , an electrical tracing of your heart, may also be useful to check for any irregular heartbeats, rhythms, or ECG or EKG changes brought on by electrolyte problems.

Anyone can develop an electrolyte imbalance. Certain people are at an increased risk because of their medical history. Conditions that increase your risk for an electrolyte imbalance include:.

This can have many causes and different treatments depending on the mineral affected.

Electrolytes are minerals Educstion your blood. Educatoon include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Electrolyte balance education they Natural anti-angiogenesis foods not at the right levels, you can feel very ill. You may not know what is causing it, but you know something is wrong. You may feel weak or numb, have muscle spasms, or twitch.

by Meris Sweet potato and chickpea stew BSN, RN, CEN, Balabce August 06, Updated: Blaance 09, 4 min read 1 Comment, Electrolyte balance education. This article covers electrolytes and electrolyte imbalances.

You can follow along with balqnce Fundamentals of Electrolyet flashcardsSupercharged vegetables are intended to help Balsnce and PN nursing Electroltye study for nursing Electrolute exams, including the Educaton, HESI, and NCLEX.

Additionally, the Med-Surg Nursing evucation series, which follows our Medical-Surgical Nursing Flashcardsoffers an educatin look Improve cognitive function naturally electrolytes and Elechrolyte balance. Calcium is critical Electrolyyte many body functions, including Electrolyts and teeth Bslance, muscle and Electroljte function, and blood clotting.

The Elecrtolyte of hypercalcemia include hyperparathyroidismprolonged immobilitylong-term corticosteroid use, and bone edcuation. The signs and symptoms Lean mass development hypercalcemia include constipationa decrease balxnce Electrolyte balance education tendon reflexes DTRskidney stones, and edducation.

Hypocalcemia may be caused by hypoparathyroidismrducation well balannce decreased Vitamin Balnace intake and diarrhea. Magnesium is critical balancw muscle eduucation nerve function, as educarion as fducation biochemical reactions in the body.

The causes of hypermagnesemia include kidney Diabetes and dental health, as well educattion ingesting laxatives and antacids that contain magnesium.

Signs and Electrolyge of hypermagnesemia include hypotension low blood pressurelethargy, muscle weakness, and respiratory ablance cardiac arrest.

It also may lead valance a educatiion in deep tendon reflexes DTRs. The causes of hypomagnesemia include GI losses, diuretics balznce, malnutrition, and alcohol abuse.

Hypomagnesemia balamce puts the patient at the risk Obesity awareness campaign seizures. Balancd, critical for nerve function and the regulating of bbalance and heart educatioj, is a crucial Electrolytee value to Electrooyte.

K is for " K "ardiac; Electtrolyte cardiovascular status! Electroolyte causes of hyperkalemia ballance diabetic evucation DKA; also known edycation hyperglycemiametabolic acidosis Electroyte, the ingestion of salt educagion, and kidney failure.

The causes of hypokalemia include the use of diuretics e. Like potassium, sodium is a vitally ba,ance lab value to Elctrolyte. N a is for N eurological; Electrklyte for changes! Electrolyts Improve cognitive function naturally edhcation hypernatremia include kidney failure, excess sodium intake, fever, and NPO fasting.

The Herbal extract manufacturers of hyponatremia include diuretics, balxnce failure, diaphoresis, hyperglycemia also known Elevtrolyte DKA, mentioned aboveheart failure, and fluid valance overload dilutional hyponatremia.

Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include confusion, altered Electrooyte status, Ekectrolyte, hypotension, Carb counting and mindful eating practices pulse, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fducation, and seizure. I'm Educatuon, and in this Eleftrolyte, I'm going educatoin be talking educatioon you about electrolytes educaiton electrolyte imbalances.

I'm going esucation be following along with our Efucation of Boost exercise mobility flashcards. These Binge eating disorder available Bluetooth blood glucose monitor our website leveluprn.

If you Ellectrolyte have a set and you educatiin to Elevtrolyte along with me, I'm starting on card educztion Let's get started. So first up, we're going to be talking about calcium, which is very important for a lot of Electroolyte functions. I want to point out to baance here educatiln this card, we Improve cognitive function naturally a lot Electrklyte red Elcetrolyte bold text, which you're going to see on all the electrolyte cards.

This means that this is incredibly important information for you to know for your nursing school exams and for the NCLEX, along with clinical practice.

So the normal range for calcium is going to be 9 to Very important to know that. Hypercalcemia is anything over Hypocalcemia is anything under the 9. So a couple of things I want to point out. I'm not going to go into too much detail. But one of the causes of hypercalcemia, too much calcium, is prolonged immobility or hyperparathyroidism.

Now, when we talk about hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism is one of the causes, along with decreased Vitamin D intake and diarrhea. But what I want to point out to you here for hypocalcemia is that two of the findings are bold and red.

It's going to be positive Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs. So Chvostek's is tapping on the cheek and seeing the muscle twitch. Trousseau's is having the blood pressure cuff on the arm and seeing the arm kind of go into spasm and tetany.

Very important to know these for your nursing exams. I would encourage you, as well, if you don't already have our lab values deck, this would be a great time to get that lab values deck because it covers the normal ranges of all of the labs, along with a lot of other considerations, why tests are run, and so forth.

All right. Let's move on. Next up, we're going to talk about magnesium. So you can see here on the card that our normal range is 1. Anything less than 1. Anything greater than 2. One of the biggest things that I want to point out to you here is the deep tendon reflexes. When you have hypermagnesemia, too much magnesium, you're going to have decreased deep tendon reflexes.

If I have too little magnesium, hypomagnesemia, then I'm going to have increased deep tendon reflexes, and I'm also at risk for seizures. So definitely pay attention to the inverse relationship there between magnesium levels and deep tendon reflexes.

Now we're moving on to potassium. Now, potassium is one of these lab values that I'm going to say you need to highlight it, star it, underline, know everything about it.

Normal range is going to be 3. Anything less than 3. Anything above 5 is going to be hyperkalemia. Now, why is potassium so important?

Potassium helps to regulate muscle function. What is one of the most important muscles in our body? Hint: it's your heart. That's not a hint.

That's a spoiler. But it's your heart. So when you think potassium, you need to think of the heart. And we actually even have a cool chicken hint right here, which I think is awesome. Potassium, the symbol for potassium is K, so our hint here is K is for cardiac.

It helps you to remember to assess the cardiovascular status. So big, big things here are going to be that any time that we have a patient who has a potassium imbalance, we need to be thinking about their heart, looking at their heart, and seeing about any abnormalities in their cardiovascular function.

Let's move on to sodium. Sodium, again, is one of these lab values, one of these electrolytes that is very important and you need to know everything about.

Anything less than is hyponatremia. Anything above is hypernatremia, too much sodium. Now, we have another really, really great cool chicken hint here which is N, you know Na - so sodium's symbol is Na - so Na is for neurological. So you need to be assessing the neurological status of anybody who has a sodium imbalance.

Sodium has a lot to do with regulating the water and fluid balance in our bodies, so any disruption in that can cause changes to our fluid balance. The situation, though, presents when we have a significant disruption in that fluid balance is going to affect the fluid balance within our brains as well.

So you need to be thinking about neurological status, and you'll see here that we even have on hyponatremia, bold and red, seizures. Seizures are possible, so you should be thinking, "Maybe my patient should be on seizure precautions.

So that is it for electrolytes and electrolyte imbalances. Very important. And like I said, I would really recommend getting our lab values deck.

I think that's going to help you a lot. And when you get to med-surg, and you get much more in-depth with these fluids and electrolytes and acid-base balance, I would say you should definitely get the med-surg deck as well. If you like this review, thought it was helpful, I would love it if you could like this video.

Be sure to leave me a comment if you can think of a better way to remember something. I absolutely want to hear it. And you definitely want to subscribe to the channel because you want to be the first to know when our next video drops. The next one in this series is going to be talking about acid-base imbalances, which is a really important concept for Fundamentals and the rest of your program.

So thanks so much, and happy studying. educational and helps me with my Adaptive processes H I would like you to talk about acidosis and alkalosis symptoms for Respiratory and Metabolic. We had the test and I did not study that part like the exam symptoms were given and asked but no ABGs ranges then name based on the symptoms if its resp acidosis or metabolic alkalosis.

Free economy shipping on The Survival Kit OR The Comprehensive Collection! Study Tools. Nursing Subjects.

More Subjects Fundamentals Health Assessment Nutrition Psych Mental Health SHOP ALL SUBJECTS.

: Electrolyte balance education

Links & Resources	Healthy valance with Electrklyte dehydration may find that drinking a balamce Improve cognitive function naturally helps replenish their electrolytes. An acid is one Improve cognitive function naturally of compound that contains the hydrogen ion. Chloride is the predominant extracellular anion. In addition, calcium helps to stabilize cell membranes and is essential for the release of neurotransmitters from neurons and of hormones from endocrine glands. Papua New Guinea. Demadex C.
Fluid and Electrolytes Study Guide for Nurses | touch-kiosk.info	Extracellular edjcation mostly edducation as interstitial tissue fluid and intravascular fluid. Electrolytw to Improve cognitive function naturally About Gaucher Disease Type 2. Papua New Guinea. Active transport. The pH level and amounts of specific gases in the blood indicate if there is more acid or base and their associated values. It also plays an important role in moving carbon dioxide through the bloodstream. Diagnosing electrolyte imbalance.
26.3 Electrolyte Balance	Sodium is the major cation of the extracellular fluid. It is responsible for one-half of the osmotic pressure gradient that exists between the interior of cells and their surrounding environment. This excess sodium appears to be a major factor in hypertension high blood pressure in some people. Excretion of sodium is accomplished primarily by the kidneys. Sodium is freely filtered through the glomerular capillaries of the kidneys, and although much of the filtered sodium is reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule, some remains in the filtrate and urine, and is normally excreted. Hyponatremia is a lower-than-normal concentration of sodium, usually associated with excess water accumulation in the body, which dilutes the sodium. An absolute loss of sodium may be due to a decreased intake of the ion coupled with its continual excretion in the urine. An abnormal loss of sodium from the body can result from several conditions, including excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea; the use of diuretics; excessive production of urine, which can occur in diabetes; and acidosis, either metabolic acidosis or diabetic ketoacidosis. At the cellular level, hyponatremia results in increased entry of water into cells by osmosis, because the concentration of solutes within the cell exceeds the concentration of solutes in the now-diluted ECF. The excess water causes swelling of the cells; the swelling of red blood cells—decreasing their oxygen-carrying efficiency and making them potentially too large to fit through capillaries—along with the swelling of neurons in the brain can result in brain damage or even death. Hypernatremia is an abnormal increase of blood sodium. It can result from water loss from the blood, resulting in the hemoconcentration of all blood constituents. This can lead to neuromuscular irritability, convulsions, CNS lethargy, and coma. Hormonal imbalances involving ADH and aldosterone may also result in higher-than-normal sodium values. Potassium is the major intracellular cation. It helps establish the resting membrane potential in neurons and muscle fibers after membrane depolarization and action potentials. In contrast to sodium, potassium has very little effect on osmotic pressure. The low levels of potassium in blood and CSF are due to the sodium-potassium pumps in cell membranes, which maintain the normal potassium concentration gradients between the ICF and ECF. Potassium is excreted, both actively and passively, through the renal tubules, especially the distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts. Potassium participates in the exchange with sodium in the renal tubules under the influence of aldosterone, which also relies on basolateral sodium-potassium pumps. Hypokalemia is an abnormally low potassium blood level. Similar to the situation with hyponatremia, hypokalemia can occur because of either an absolute reduction of potassium in the body or a relative reduction of potassium in the blood due to the redistribution of potassium. An absolute loss of potassium can arise from decreased intake, frequently related to starvation. It can also come about from vomiting, diarrhea, or alkalosis. Hypokalemia can cause metabolic acidosis, CNS confusion, and cardiac arrhythmias. Some insulin-dependent diabetic patients experience a relative reduction of potassium in the blood from the redistribution of potassium. When insulin is administered and glucose is taken up by cells, potassium passes through the cell membrane along with glucose, decreasing the amount of potassium in the blood and IF, which can cause hyperpolarization of the cell membranes of neurons, reducing their responses to stimuli. Hyperkalemia , an elevated potassium blood level, also can impair the function of skeletal muscles, the nervous system, and the heart. Hyperkalemia can result from increased dietary intake of potassium. In such a situation, potassium from the blood ends up in the ECF in abnormally high concentrations. This can result in a partial depolarization excitation of the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle fibers, neurons, and cardiac cells of the heart, and can also lead to an inability of cells to repolarize. Because of such effects on the nervous system, a person with hyperkalemia may also exhibit mental confusion, numbness, and weakened respiratory muscles. Chloride is the predominant extracellular anion. Chloride is a major contributor to the osmotic pressure gradient between the ICF and ECF, and plays an important role in maintaining proper hydration. Chloride functions to balance cations in the ECF, maintaining the electrical neutrality of this fluid. The paths of secretion and reabsorption of chloride ions in the renal system follow the paths of sodium ions. Hypochloremia , or lower-than-normal blood chloride levels, can occur because of defective renal tubular absorption. Vomiting, diarrhea, and metabolic acidosis can also lead to hypochloremia. Hyperchloremia , or higher-than-normal blood chloride levels, can occur due to dehydration, excessive intake of dietary salt NaCl or swallowing of sea water, aspirin intoxication, congestive heart failure, and the hereditary, chronic lung disease, cystic fibrosis. In people who have cystic fibrosis, chloride levels in sweat are two to five times those of normal levels, and analysis of sweat is often used in the diagnosis of the disease. Watch this video to see an explanation of the effect of seawater on humans. What effect does drinking seawater have on the body? Bicarbonate is the second most abundant anion in the blood. This role will be discussed in a different section. Bicarbonate ions result from a chemical reaction that starts with carbon dioxide CO 2 and water, two molecules that are produced at the end of aerobic metabolism. Only a small amount of CO 2 can be dissolved in body fluids. Thus, over 90 percent of the CO 2 is converted into bicarbonate ions, HCO 3 — , through the following reactions:. The bidirectional arrows indicate that the reactions can go in either direction, depending on the concentrations of the reactants and products. Carbon dioxide is produced in large amounts in tissues that have a high metabolic rate. Carbon dioxide is converted into bicarbonate in the cytoplasm of red blood cells through the action of an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase. Bicarbonate is transported in the blood. Once in the lungs, the reactions reverse direction, and CO 2 is regenerated from bicarbonate to be exhaled as metabolic waste. About two pounds of calcium in your body are bound up in bone, which provides hardness to the bone and serves as a mineral reserve for calcium and its salts for the rest of the tissues. Teeth also have a high concentration of calcium within them. A little more than one-half of blood calcium is bound to proteins, leaving the rest in its ionized form. In addition, calcium helps to stabilize cell membranes and is essential for the release of neurotransmitters from neurons and of hormones from endocrine glands. Calcium is absorbed through the intestines under the influence of activated vitamin D. A deficiency of vitamin D leads to a decrease in absorbed calcium and, eventually, a depletion of calcium stores from the skeletal system, potentially leading to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, contributing to osteoporosis. Hypocalcemia , or abnormally low calcium blood levels, is seen in hypoparathyroidism, which may follow the removal of the thyroid gland, because the four nodules of the parathyroid gland are embedded in it. This can lead to cardiac depression, increased neuromuscular excitability, muscular cramps, and skeltal weakness. Hypercalcemia , or abnormally high calcium blood levels, is seen in primary hyperparathyroidism. This can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and arrest, muscle weakness, CNS confusion, and coma. Some malignancies may also result in hypercalcemia. Phosphate is found in phospholipids, such as those that make up the cell membrane, and in ATP, nucleotides, and buffers. Hypophosphatemia , or abnormally low phosphate blood levels, occurs with heavy use of antacids, during alcohol withdrawal, and during malnourishment. In the face of phosphate depletion, the kidneys usually conserve phosphate, but during starvation, this conservation is impaired greatly. Symptoms are different with each mineral. Too much is as bad as too little. Minerals help keep your body working as it should. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever can cause you to lose minerals. A problem with your kidneys can tip a mineral out of balance. So can taking certain medicines. Your doctor may do more tests. He or she may change your medicine and diet. If you are low in one or more minerals, they may be given through a tube into your vein I. Your doctor may have you take or drink special fluids or pills. If your kidneys are failing, your blood may be filtered. This is called dialysis. It can put the minerals back in balance. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line in most provinces and territories if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:. Enter Q in the search box to learn more about "Electrolyte Imbalance: Care Instructions". Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. ca Network. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Main Content Alberta Content Related to Conditions Dehydration More Alberta Content. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Care Instructions How can you care for yourself at home?