Unit 6: Water and Minerals Flashcards
What are some signs and symptoms of mild dehydration (
Thirst, rough, dry skin, dry mouth, impaired kidney function, fainting, low blood pressure, rapid pulse
What are some signs and symptoms of severe dehydration (>5% body weight loss)?
Pale skin, bluish lips and fingertips, confusion, shock, seizures, rapid, shallow breathing, weak, rapid, irregular pulse
What are our sources for water?
Liquids, foods and metabolic water
Where is our water lost?
Kidneys (urine), skin (sweat), lungs (breath) and GI tract (feces)
What organ is important in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance?
The kidney. Acid-base balance as well.
What is the difference between major and minor minerals?
Major are found in amounts >5 g in the body. Minor (trace) are found in amounts
What are some examples of major minerals?
Calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur
What are some examples of trace minerals?
Zinc, Iron, Iodine, Maganese, Copper, Fluoride
What is sodium?
Na. A positively charge ion that is used to maintain the volume of fluid outside of cells. Nerve transmission and muscle contractions
What is the DRI and UL for sodium?
DRI is 1500 mg, UL is 2300 mg/day
When does water intoxication occur?
Occurs with excessive water consumption and kidney disorders that reduce urine production. Dilutes sodium concentration of blood, contributes to hyponatremia
What happens during water excretion regulation?
The hypothalamus, which monitor’s blood salts stimulates the pituitary gland to release antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which causes the kidney to reabsorb water.
Aldosterone also has the same effect.
What major minerals are critical to nerve transmission and muscle contractions?
Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium
What major minerals are involved in energy metabolism?
Phosphorus and magnesium
What major minerals contribute to the structure of bones?
Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium
What major mineral helps determine the shape of proteins?
Sulfur
What can happen when there are high intakes of sodium?
Hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cerebral hemorrhage
What is a DASH diet?
A diet designed to help lower Na intake and increase K intake with fruits and vegetables, low fat or fat free milk, whole grains, poultry, fish.
What is chloride?
Cl. A major negative ion that accompanies Na outside of cells, help to maintain fluid and electrolyte balances and the acid-base balance. Also in stomach acid.
What is the main source of chloride?
Salt that is added to foods and naturally occurring
How much sodium does the average canadian diet contain?
3100 mg of sodium per day
What happens to K during dehydration?
K is lost within the cell. Dangerous because if they are lost in the brain, they lose their ability to detect the need for fluids.
What should be done when a patient is taking diuretics?
Take under doctor supervision. Eat potassium rich foods to compensate for losses.
What is potassium deficiency characterized by?
Increased blood pressure, kidney stones and salt sensitivity. Due to excessive losses.
What is potassium toxicity characterized by?
Irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness and glucose intolerance.
How does potassium deficiency occur?
Medications (diuretics, steroids, cathartics), diabetic acidosis, dehydration or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea
What is calcium?
Most abundant mineral in the body. Stored in bones, teeth and fluids outside cell
What happens if we don’t have adequate calcium blood levels?
The body with take calcium from the bones to maintain the blood levels.
Small intestine will absorb more and kidneys with excrete less