2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
01
ELECTROLYTES
DEFINITION
TYPES
IMPORTANCE
ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE
SYMPTOMS
TYPES
DIAGNOSIS
TREATMENT
02
BODY FLUID
BODY FUIID MOVEMENT
FLUID IMBALANCE
03
FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES
BALANCE IN THE HUMAN BODY
GENERAL CAUSES OF FLUID AND
ELECTROLYTES IMBALANCE
TREATMENT
04
3. 01
INTRODUCTION
Fluid and electrolytes balance is a dynamic process that is crucial
for life.
It plays an important role in homeostasis.
Imbalance may result from many factors, and it is associated with
illness.
Maintaining the right level of water in your body is crucial to
survival.
4. 02
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROLYTES are minerals that have an electric charge when dissolved in
water or body fluids, including blood. The charge can be positive or negative.
You have electrolytes in your blood, urine (pee), tissues, and other body fluids.
TYPES OF ELECTROLYTES
Electrolytes found in your body include:
• Sodium- helps control the amount of fluid in the body.
• Potassium- helps your cells, heart, and muscles work properly.
• Chloride- helps maintain healthy blood volume and blood pressure.
• Calcium- helps make and keep bones and teeth strong.
• Magnesium- helps your muscles, nerves, and heart work properly and helps
control blood pressure and blood glucose (blood sugar)
• Phosphate- works together with calcium to build strong bones and teeth.
• Bicarbonate- helps maintain the body’s acid and base balance (pH). It also plays
an important role in moving carbon dioxide through the bloodstream.
NB: You get these electrolytes from the food you eat and the fluids you drink.
5. IMPORTANCE OF ELECTROLYTES
Electrolytes are important because they help:
• Balance the amount of water in your body.
• Balance your body’s acid and base (pH) level.
• Move nutrients into your cells.
• Move wastes out of you cells.
• Support your muscles and rhythm steady.
• Keep your blood pressure stable.
• Keep your bones and teeth healthy.
ELECTROLYTES IMBALANCE
An electrolyte imbalance means that the level of one or more electrolytes in your
body is too low or too high. It can happen when the amount of water in your body
changes.
Disturbances in electrolytes can have a harmful effect on your health and can even
be fatal in rare cases
6. Electrolyte imbalances often occur due to
• Dehydration caused by excess heat.
• Certain medicines.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Heart, Liver and Kidney disease.
• Eating disorders.
• Drinking too much water.
• Injuries like severe burns.
NB: This is why you should be mindful of replacing any lost fluids when it’s hot or
when you’re sick.
SYMPTOMS
If you have a mild electrolyte disturbance, you probably won’t experience any
symptoms. However, more severe imbalances can cause symptoms like
Fatigue
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Numbness and tingling
Confusion
7. ELECTROLYE TOO LOW TOO HIGH
Bicarbonate Acidosis Alkalosis
Calcium Hypocalcaemia Hypercalcemia
Chloride Hypochloremia Hyperchloremia
Magnesium Hypomagnesaemia Hypermagnesemia
Phosphate Hypophosphatemia Hyperphosphatemia
Potassium Hypokalemia Hyperkalemia
Sodium Hyponatremia Hypernatremia
Muscle weakness and cramping
Headaches
TYPES OF ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE
8. A test called a electrolyte panel can check the levels of your body’s main electrolyte. A
related test, the anion gap blood test, checks whether your electrolytes are out of
balance or if your blood is too acidic or not acidic enough.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE
The treatment for electrolyte imbalance depends on which electrolytes are out of
balance. If there is too little or many, and what is causing the imbalance. In minor cases,
you may just make some changes to your diet. If its severe, discuss your symptoms with
your doctor.
The best way to reach and maintain electrolyte balance is through a healthy diet. The
main food sources of electrolytes are fruits and vegetables. Some foods are:
Sodium: Pickled foods, cheese and table salt.
Chloride: Table salt.
Potassium: Fruits and vegetables like bananas, avocado and sweet potato.
Magnesium: Seeds and nuts.
Calcium: Dairy products, fortified dairy alternatives and green leafy vegetables.
HOW ARE ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE DIAGNOSED
9. 03
BODY FLUID
Body fluids consist of water, electrolytes, blood plasma and component cells,
proteins, and other soluble particles called solutes.
Fluids make up a large portion of the body, which is approximately 50%-60% of the
total body weight.
Body fluids are found in two main compartments of the body called the
A. Intracellular fluid
B. Extracellular fluid
• interstitial fluid
• Plasma
10. in out
28L
11L
3L
• FOOD
• DRINK
• CARBON M
ETABOLISM
INSENSIBLE
• LUNGS (breathing)
• SWEATING
• FECES
• KIDNEY LOSS
3L
11L
28L
Na+
Cl-
Mg2+
Ca2+
BODY FLUID MOVEMENT
THE DIAGRAM WILL BE EXPLAIN DURING PRESENTATION
11. Fluid Imbalance
Two types of fluid imbalances are excessive fluid volume (also referred to as
Hypervolemia) and deficient fluid volume (also referred to as hypovolemia).
Excessive Fluid Volume
Excessive fluid volume (also referred to as hypervolemia) occurs when there is
increased fluid retained in the intravascular compartment. Patients at risk for
developing excessive fluid volume are those with the following conditions:
Heart Failure
Kidney Failure
Cirrhosis
Pregnancy
Deficient Fluid Volume
Deficient fluid volume (also referred to as hypovolemia or dehydration) occurs
when loss of fluid is greater than fluid input. Common causes of deficient fluid
volume are diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, fever, and poor oral fluid intake
12. In adults, symptoms of dehydration are as follows:
• Feeling very thirsty
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Dry skin
• Urinating and sweating less than usual
• Dark, concentrated urine
• Feeling tired
• Changes in mental status
• Dizziness due to decreased blood pressure
• Elevated heart rate
13. In infants and young children, additional symptoms of dehydration include the
following:
• Crying without tears
• No wet diapers for three hours or more
• Being unusually sleepy or drowsy
• Irritability
• Eyes that look sunken
Water balance
Water balance is achieved in the body by ensuring that the amount of water
consumed in food and drink (and generated by metabolism) equals the amount of
water excreted.
NOTE- Dehydration can be mild and treated with increased oral intake such as water
or sports drinks. Severe cases can be life-threatening and require the
administration of intravenous fluids.
14. 04
FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES BALANCE IN THE HUMAN BODY
Electrolyte balance is having electrolytes in the right concentration in maintaining fluid
balance among the compartment.
Fluid balance is when the amount of fluid lost from the body equals to the amount of fluid
taken in
CAUSES OF FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCES
Causes of fluid and electrolyte imbalances are discussed below in general.
• Fluid retention. Retention of sodium is associated with fluid retention.
• Loss of sodium. Excessive loss of sodium is associated with decreased volume of body
fluid.
• Trauma. Trauma causes release of intracellular potassium which is extremely dangerous.
• Loss of body fluids. FVD results from loss of body fluids and occurs more rapidly when
coupled with decreased fluid intake.
• Fluid overload. Fluid volume excess may be related to a simple fluid overload or
diminished function of the homeostatic mechanisms responsible for regulating fluid
balance.
15. • Low or high electrolyte intake. Diets low or excessive in electrolytes could also
cause electrolyte imbalances.
• Medications. There are certain medications that could lead to electrolyte
imbalances when taken against the physician’s orders.
TREATMENT
Diagnosing and treating these imbalances typically involves blood tests, fluid
replacement or restriction, and electrolyte supplementation or restriction, all
under medical supervision.
16. GROUP MEMBERS
NAME INDEX NUMBER SIGNATURE
BAWAH MABEL YENNUMITIPO 5222030331
BAWAH THOMAS JANPAAT 5222030332
KESEWAA SABINA 5222030333
ADDAI EMMANUELLA 5222030334
DAWUNI LUKE SANDOW 5222030335
TAKYI SARAH 5222030336
TAWIAH ABIGAIL AMA ALASUWA 5222030337
DANKWAH GODWIN 5222030338
YABANYI ELIJAH 5222030339
OSEI LOUISA 5222030340
