Hypocalcemia

Question 1

Hypocalcemia

Answer 1

Low calcium levels in blood
Normal calcium levels: 8.6-10.0 mg/dL
Think of muscles
Role of calcium: plays a huge role in bone and teeth, muscle/ nerve function, cell function, and blood clotting

Absorbed in GI system, stored in bones and excreted in kidneys. Vitamin D helps play in this role because they help absorb calcium

Also calcium and phosphate affect each other in opposite ways so when calcium level is high, phosphate will be low and it alternates

Question 2

Causes of hypocalemia

Answer 2

Remember “ low calcium”
L- low parathyroid hormone: destruction or removal or any neck surgeries
O- oral intake inadequate(lacking)
W- wound drainage (GI system)
C- celiacs disease and crohns- malabsorption
A- acute pancreatitis
L- low vitamin D: allows calcium to be reabsorbed
C- chronic kidney disease
I- increased phosphorus level ( calcium and phosphate work opposites)
U- using medications
M- mobility

Question 3

Signs and symptoms of hypocalemia

Answer 3

Remember CRAMPS
C- confusion
R- reflexes hyperactive
A- arrhythmias( irregular heart beat)- prolonged QT interval and ST interval for ECG
M- muscle spasms in calves and feet
P- positive trousseaus-BP cuff on arm, inflate systolic for 3 min and hold and if hand twitches that’s a sign
S- sign of chvosteks- twitching of the facial muscle in response to tapping over the area of the facial nerve

Question 4

Nursing interventions

Answer 4

• safety: risk for bone fracture
• administer IV calcium, give slowly and monitor heart rhythm
• digoxin- cause toxicity- calcium doesn’t go with this
• administer oral vitamin D (after meal)
• encourage foods rich in calcium: remember saying young sally calcium serum continues to randomly mess up
• calcium rich foods: yogurt, sardines, cheese, spinach, collard greens, tofu, rhubarb, milk
  Y- yogurt
  S- sardines
  C- cheese
  S- spinach
  C- collard greens
  T- tofu
  R- rhubarb
  M- milk