Fluid Pressures/Movements (Starling's Law)
Fluid Pressures/Movements (Starling's Law) ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is teaching a client who has heart failure about the importance of limiting sodium intake. The client asks, "How does sodium affect my condition?” Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
Sodium attracts water and increases the fluid volume in your blood vessels. This is the correct answer because sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate the balance of fluids in the body. When there is too much sodium in the blood, it draws water from the cells and tissues into the blood vessels, increasing the blood volume and pressure. This puts extra strain on the heart and can worsen heart failure symptoms.
Sodium causes water to move out of your cells and into your urine. This is incorrect because sodium does not cause water to move out of the cells and into the urine. In fact, sodium can cause water retention by stimulating the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which reduces urine output and increases blood volume.
Sodium stimulates your kidneys to retain water and decrease urine output. This is incorrect because sodium does not directly stimulate the kidneys to retain water and decrease urine output. However, sodium can indirectly affect the kidney function by increasing the blood volume and pressure, which can damage the kidney cells and impair their ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the body.
Sodium interferes with the action of your heart medications. This is incorrect because sodium does not interfere with the action of your heart medications. However, some heart medications, such as diuretics, can cause sodium loss in the urine, which can lead to low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia) This can cause symptoms such as confusion, weakness, nausea, and muscle cramps. Therefore, it is important to monitor your sodium intake and blood levels while taking heart medications.
Choice A reason:
Sodium attracts water and increases the fluid volume in your blood vessels. This is the correct answer because sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate the balance of fluids in the body. When there is too much sodium in the blood, it draws water from the cells and tissues into the blood vessels, increasing the blood volume and pressure. This puts extra strain on the heart and can worsen heart failure symptoms.
Choice B reason:
Sodium causes water to move out of your cells and into your urine. This is incorrect because sodium does not cause water to move out of the cells and into the urine. In fact, sodium can cause water retention by stimulating the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which reduces urine output and increases blood volume.
Choice C reason:
Sodium stimulates your kidneys to retain water and decrease urine output. This is incorrect because sodium does not directly stimulate the kidneys to retain water and decrease urine output. However, sodium can indirectly affect the kidney function by increasing the blood volume and pressure, which can damage the kidney cells and impair their ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the body.
Choice D reason:
Sodium interferes with the action of your heart medications. This is incorrect because sodium does not interfere with the action of your heart medications. However, some heart medications, such as diuretics, can cause sodium loss in the urine, which can lead to low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia) This can cause symptoms such as confusion, weakness, nausea, and muscle cramps. Therefore, it is important to monitor your sodium intake and blood levels while taking heart medications.