Potassium Research Paper

Potassium works with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance. The kidneys help to control the blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid stored in the body. Therefore, the more fluid then the higher the blood pressure is. The kidneys do this by filtering out the blood and extracting any extra fluid, which then is stored in the bladder as urine. This is done very delicately as both sodium and potassium pull the water across the wall of the cells from the bloodstream into a collecting channel that leads to the bladder. When eating to much salt, the amount of sodium in the bloodstream will be imbalanced compared to the amount of potassium and thus reducing the ability of the kidneys remove the extra fluid. Eating more fruit and vegetables, the potassium levels increase and can help restore the chemical imbalance. However, there is a possibility of too much potassium, also known as hyperkalemia, which can lead to other issues like renal failure.

Neuromyotonia is an extremely unusual disorder, where impulsive motor unit are constantly firing and activating the muscle fibers. Neuromyotonia has several symptoms but the most common ones are muscle pains and twitching. The condition affects the voltage-gated potassium channels, by reducing the number of voltage gated potassium-complex resulting in prolonged depolarization of the motor nerve terminal and excessive acetylcholine release. Treatment depends on the varying symptoms from person to person but usually people are prescribed with medication or undergo a plasma exchange.

1. ECF potassium levels affect resting membrane potential. Hyperkalemia (excessive levels of potassium in the blood) and hypokalemia (abnormally low blood potassium levels) both affect the function of nerves and muscles.

I am concerned about potassium intake because it plays an important role in regulating heartbeat, lowering blood volume and blood pressure (Hammond, 2016d). The lack of potassium intake will lead to irregular heartbeat and life-threatened diseases such as hypokalemia (Hammond, 2016d). In order to increase my potassium consumption, animal foods and plant foods especial fresh vegetable and fruit are needed (Hammond, 2016d).

4. Why does potassium concentration rise in patients with acidosis? What is this called? What effects does it have?

Potassium Chloride is a metal halide salt composed of potassium and chlorine. In its pure state, it is odorless and has a white or colorless vitreous crystal appearance. It is commonly used in fertilizer.

Vitamins are primarily classified by solubility. Some vitamins are soluble in water and others are soluble in fat. “According to The National Institute of Health, the body needs 13 vitamins for normal health.” This includes vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B complex vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12 and folate. Each of these vitamins provides a variety of functions to the body which can be obtained from a well balanced diet (Farris, 2012).

Recent studies have proven that imbalances in feline potassium levels are directly related to certain health conditions and issues that older cats are prone to. Fortunately, the condition is treatable, and cats are not only healthier now, but they have longer life expectancies today than ever before. So let's take a look at the potassium issue from the perspective of what

You have been receiving these symptoms for the following reasons, your viral infection, Coxsackievirus B1 which you had over 6 months ago, has increased your chances of diabetes due to the immune system incorrectly targeting the pancreas which makes insulin. Insulin allows glucose into the cells, however diabetes stops or decreases the amount to insulin being created, when this happens glucose is stuck in the blood stream and not in the cells therefore raising the blood sugar levels. The increase of glucose in your blood is making your kidney work overtime to filter and absorb the food. When the kidney can’t keep up the need to urinate which will be leaving your body dehydrated creating you to drink more water making you need to urinate even more.

What role does each of the selected electrolytes play in cellular function and fluid balance? Magnesium ( 1.8-2.4mEq/L) helps in maintaining a normal muscle and nerve function, it also helps with regulation cardiac rhythm and it is involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Calcium (8-10 mg/dl). helps with nerve transmission, cardiac excitability and muscular contraction and hormone regulation.

The human body is constantly undergoing changes and compensatory mechanisms to balance the body and maintain homeostasis. Two contributing mechanisms revolve around the body undergoing acidosis and alkalosis in regards to serum potassium shifts. There are concerns about such shifts due to potential cardiac malfunctions and changes in the pH of the body. The way cells interact in intracellular and extracellular fluids also determines the action potential for cells in regards to how much potential is needed to reach a threshold and polarize or depolarize a cell. There are often countless compensatory mechanisms working inside the body to help maintain homeostasis.

In addition to the disorders in the metabolism, patients with DKA experience a condition known as Hyperglycemia-Induced Osmotic Diuresis characterized by the intracellular and extracellular shift of increased glucose levels in the blood, and leads to electrolyte imbalance, increased serum osmolality, and dehydration. Affected electrolytes include sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. Hypokalemia occurs as a result of absorption of potassium from cell to skeletal muscle (Gosmanov, Gosmanova, & Dillard-Cannon 2014). These changes may cause a false elevation of serum potassium levels (Sole et al. 2013).

Potassium is an electrolyte of significant importance to normal functioning of the human body. Normal serum potassium levels range from 3.5 meq/L to 5.0 meq/L. When serum potassium levels fall below 3.0 meq/L the patient experiences symptoms which are life altering and life threatening. Thus, correction of hypokalemia requires immediate and efficient interventions to normalize serum potassium

Ryans current Potassium level was at a 2.9 mml/L. Adequate levels of Potassium compared to his age should be at 3.3-4.7 mmol/L. Too little Potassium affects the hearts frequency as well as contractions. His Digoxin levels were tested to see if the medication was becoming

Potassium is crucial to heart function, important for normal digestive and muscular function. It is the primary positive ion (cation) found inside body cells that it is essential for normal cell function. The proper function of the body requires 8% electrolytes in the bones,90% in skin intracellular fluid and 2% in extracellular fluid. Buttarro, et. al., (2017) mentioned that the human body average potassium is about 50 mEq/kg and normal blood potassium level is 3.5 - 5.0 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L). The decrease in potassium level is known as Hypokalemia; it profoundly affects the nervous system and heart, and when extreme may lead to sever complication or death (Buttarro et. al., 2017). Hypokalemia is a possible life-threatening imbalance that in some cases are acquired through inducing drugs (iatrogenic), genetic, endocrine, vascular and renal disorders (Butarro et. al.,