Question

Choose a medical condition from the fluid, electrolyte, or acid-base system and explain the pathophysiology changes that may occur.

Answer 1

Hyperkalemia

It is one of the major medical condition due to changes in the fluid, electrolyte changes or imbalance. Hyperkalemia is the condition in which the individual has the serum potassium level higher than 5.0mmol/L. The normal serum potassium level ranges from 3.5- 5.0 mmol/L.

Pathophysiology of hyperkalemia;

In the normal human physiology, potassium is responsible for nerves conduction and maajor muscle contraction. when the potassium level increase or decrease it eventually affects the functioning of the nerves and muscles. Usually 90% of the potassium is high in intracellular space and remaining in the extra cellular space. The shifting of the potassium from inside of the cell to the outside causes action potential and leads to muscle contraction and other function. But it all gets affected when the potassium level is increased in the serum blood level.

• following are the factors that cause increased serum potassium, it should be
  - excessive intake of potassium through diets or any kind of supplementation
  - decreased potassium excretion due to renal insuffiency or other causes
  - imbalance intra and extra cellular shifting
• these may leads to increased potassium in the extra cellular space and in blood plasma,
• these effect is mainly seen on the cardiac function, due to increased potassium in the extra cellular causes magnitude of the potassium gradient across the cell membrane and it leads to decraese the number of available sodium cahnnel
• it result in slower influx of sodium in the cells and causes slower impulse conduction in the cardiac region
• eventually the individual experience of the signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia like trouble braething, chest pain, weakness and tiredness ect..
  Kf tho Con dardsn