Regulation of Electrolytes
Regulation of Electrolytes ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has a high serum potassium level. Which of the following factors can cause hyperkalemia? (Select all that apply.)
Renal failure. This is a common cause of hyperkalemia because the kidneys are responsible for excreting excess potassium from the body. When the kidneys are damaged or impaired, they cannot filter out enough potassium, leading to its accumulation in the blood.
Diuretic therapy. This is not a cause of hyperkalemia, but rather a potential treatment for it. Diuretics are medications that increase urine output and help remove excess fluid and electrolytes from the body. Some diuretics, such as thiazides and loop diuretics, can also lower potassium levels by increasing its loss in urine. However, other diuretics, such as potassium-sparing diuretics, can cause hyperkalemia by reducing potassium excretion.
Acidosis. This is a condition where the blood pH is lower than normal, indicating an excess of acid in the body. Acidosis can cause hyperkalemia by shifting potassium from the cells to the blood in exchange for hydrogen ions. This is a mechanism to buffer the acid and maintain the electrical balance across the cell membrane.
Insulin deficiency. This is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Insulin deficiency can cause hyperkalemia by impairing the uptake of glucose and potassium into the cells. Insulin normally stimulates the activity of sodium-potassium pumps that transport sodium out of the cells and potassium into the cells.
Tissue injury. This is a condition where there is damage or destruction of body tissues due to trauma, infection, inflammation, or ischemia (lack of blood supply) Tissue injury can cause hyperkalemia by releasing potassium from the injured cells into the blood. This can occur in conditions such as burns, crush injuries, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), hemolysis (red blood cell breakdown), or tumor lysis syndrome (cancer cell breakdown)
Choice A reason:
Renal failure. This is a common cause of hyperkalemia because the kidneys are responsible for excreting excess potassium from the body. When the kidneys are damaged or impaired, they cannot filter out enough potassium, leading to its accumulation in the blood.
Choice B reason:
Diuretic therapy. This is not a cause of hyperkalemia, but rather a potential treatment for it. Diuretics are medications that increase urine output and help remove excess fluid and electrolytes from the body. Some diuretics, such as thiazides and loop diuretics, can also lower potassium levels by increasing its loss in urine. However, other diuretics, such as potassium-sparing diuretics, can cause hyperkalemia by reducing potassium excretion.
Choice C reason:
Acidosis. This is a condition where the blood pH is lower than normal, indicating an excess of acid in the body. Acidosis can cause hyperkalemia by shifting potassium from the cells to the blood in exchange for hydrogen ions. This is a mechanism to buffer the acid and maintain the electrical balance across the cell membrane.
Choice D reason:
Insulin deficiency. This is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Insulin deficiency can cause hyperkalemia by impairing the uptake of glucose and potassium into the cells. Insulin normally stimulates the activity of sodium-potassium pumps that transport sodium out of the cells and potassium into the cells.
Choice E reason:
Tissue injury. This is a condition where there is damage or destruction of body tissues due to trauma, infection, inflammation, or ischemia (lack of blood supply) Tissue injury can cause hyperkalemia by releasing potassium from the injured cells into the blood. This can occur in conditions such as burns, crush injuries, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), hemolysis (red blood cell breakdown), or tumor lysis syndrome (cancer cell breakdown)