Unit 6: Water and Minerals Flashcards
which nutrient do we need the most
water
how long can you survive without water
- few days
describe the functions of water in the body (7)
- carries nutrients & waste products throughout the body
- maintains the structure of large molecules
- participates in metabolic rxns
- solvent
- maintains blood volume
- regulates body temp
- acts as a lubricant & cushions
list 2 large molecules that water helps maintain the structure of
- proteins
- glycogen
what does water serve as the solvent of (4)
- minerals
- vitamins
- amino acids
- glucose
how does water aid in the regulation of normal body temp
- evaporation of sweat from the skin removes excess heat from the body
what does water act as a lubricant for (4)
- around joints
- in the eyes
- spinal cord
- amniotic sac surrounding a fetus
how is water excretion regulated (3)
- by the brain & kidneys thru:
- ADH
- renin
- aldo
a healthy body excretes a minimum of how much water daily? why
- 500 mL
- sufficient to clear metabolic waste
what do water requirements depend on
- size
- enviro
- activity
- etc.
what is the AI of water intake for men? women?
- men = 3.7 L
- women = 2.7 L
what can imbalances of water intake and excretion cause (2)?
- dehydration
- water intoxication
what is the role of the hypothalamus in water intake
- mediates thirst & the urge to drink
- which is based on the conc of blood with solutes
how does thirst change with age
- sensation of thirst decreases
list 3 sources of water
- liquids
- foods
- metabolic water
list 4 sources of water loss
- kidneys (urine)
- skin (sweat)
- lungs (breath)
- GI tract (feces)
what is considered mild dehydration
- loss of <5% body weight
what is considered severe dehydration
- loss of >5% body weight
list signs of mild dehydration (lotssss, 13)
- thirst
- sudden weight loss
- rough, dry skin
- dry mouth, throat, body linings
- rapid pulse
- low bp
- low energy/weakness
- impaired kidney function
- reduced quanity & concentrated of urine
- decreased mental functioning
- decreased muscular work
- fever
- fainting
list signs of severe dehydration (9)
- pale skin
- bluish lips & fingertips
- confusion/disorientation
- rapid, shallow breathing
- weak, rapid, irreg pulse
- thickening of blood
- shock
- seizures
- coma, death
what organ plays an important role in fluid, electrolyte balance, and acid-base
the kidneys
what is the importance of fluid & electrolyte balance (2)
- maintains water conc
- prevents edema
- and others
list 6 causes of fluid & electrolyte imbalance
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- heavy sweating
- fever
- burns
- wounds
what are minerals
- naturally occurring, inorganic, essential, chemical elements
what are considered major minerals
- minerals found in the body in amts larger than 5 g
what are considered trace minerals
- minerals found in the body in amts less than 5 g
list 7 examples of major minerals
- calcium
- chloride
- magnesium
- phosphorus
- potassium
- sodium
- sulfur
list 9 examples of trace minerals
- chromium
- copper
- fluoride
- iodine
- iron
- manganese
- molybdenum
- selenium
- zinc
how are major minerals expressed
- in mg or grams
how are trace minerals expressed
- mg or micrograms
describe the requirement for major & trace minerals
- both are needed, but in diff amounts
what are shortfall nutrients
- nutrients that tend to be deficienct in many people
list 4 examples of shortfall nutrients
- calcium
- magnesium
- iron
- potassium
which nutrients is often overconsumed
- sodium
what is sodium
- a positievly charged ion that is used to maintain the volume of fluid outside cells
- major mineral
what is the DRI recommendation for sodium? what does the average canadian consume?
- DRI = 1500 mg
- average = over 2700
list the functions of sodium (4)
- primary regulator of ECF
- essential to muscle contraction
- nerve transmission
- helps maintain acid-base balance
list food sources of sodium (3)
- salt
- soy sauce
- processed foods
list symptoms associated with sodium deficiency (3)
- muscle cramps
- mental apathy
- loss of appetite
what is a sign of sodium toxicity
- HTN
see box 9-1 in the notes for strategies to cut salt intake
- kinda obvious tho
what can lead to HTN
- high intakes of sodium
world-wide, populations with high salt intakes experience higher rates of… (3)
- HTN
- CVD
- cerebral hemorrhage
what is one proven dietary approach to help people lower than Na intake & increase their K intake
DASH diet
what does the DASH diet encourage
- diet that encourages potassium rich foods
- whole grains
- fruits & veggies
- nuts
- poultry
- fish
- fat free or low fat milk products
what does the DASH diet discourage
- red & processed meats
- sweets
- sugar containing drinks
what is another strategy to that helps lower BP
- regular physical activity
what is another benefit of the DASH diet
- can lower LDLs = cardioprotective
what are other tips for individuals on the DASH eating plan (5)
- keep active
- stay within alcohol limits
- quit smoking
- lower stress lvls
- adhere to BP meds
describe how the DASH diet plan works
- suggests a certain # of servings from each food category based on 3 different calorie lvl diets
what is chloride
- a major negative ion
what are the fnxns of chloride (3)
- accompanies sodium in the fluids outside the cells
- helps maintain fluid & electrolyte balances
- maintains acid-base balance
what is chloride a part of? what role does this have?
- part of hydrochloric acid (HCl)
= maintains the strong acidity of the stomach
= necessary for proper digestion
describe chloride deficiency
- does not occur under normal circumstances
describe chloride toxicity (2)
- normally harmless
- can cause vomitting
list food sources of chloride (4)
- main source is salt
- soy sauce
- moderate amts in whole, unprocessed foods
- large amts in processed foods
what effect does dehydration on potassium
- causes the loss of potassium from inside cells
why is the loss of potassium from cells dangerous
- once cells of the brain lose potassium, they lose the ability to detect the need for fluids
what impact does the relationship between dehydration & K+ have on the administration of diuretics
- only take under dr supervision
- and the pt should be encouraged to eat potassium rich foods to compensate for losses
list food sources of potassium (7)
- fresh, whole foods
- veggies
- fruits
- legumes
- meats
- milk
- grains
what effect does processing have on K+
- processing causes potassium loss
what impact does K have on BP
- low K+ intake can cause HTN
- high K+ intake can prevent or correct HTN
what is the main fnxn of potassium (5)
- maintains fluid & electrolyte balance
- cell integrity
- role in nerve transmission
- muscle contraction
- critical for heart function
what are signs of moderate K+ deficiency (4)
- elevated BP
- increased salt sensiivity
- increased risk of kidney stones
- increased bone turnover
what are signs of severe K+ deficiency (3)
- cardiac arrhythmias
- muscle weakness
- glucose intol
what are signs of K+ toxicity (3)
- muscle weakness
- trigger vomitting
- if given into a vein, can stop the heart
how long does active bone growth occur
from birth to ~ age 20
who is the DRI recommendations for calcium higher in? why?
- children & adolescents
- to help achieve peak bone mass
what is osteoporosis
- reduction in bone mass where the bones become porous & fragile
osteoporosis is a result of…
- result calcium deficiency
who is osteroporosis more common in? why? (3)
- women
- less calcium in diet
- loss after menopause
- lower bone mass from the start
what does osteoporosis cause later in life
- fractures
list nonmodifiable risk factors for osteoporosis (8)
- female
- older age
- small frame
- caucasian, asian, hispanic/latino heritage
- FHx
- personal history of fractures
- estrogen deficiency in women
- testosterone deficiency in men
list modifiable factors of osteoporosis (7)
- sedentary lifestyle
- inadequate calcium & vitamin D
- excessive sodium & caffeine
- alcohol abuse
- smoking
- low body weight
- certain med
list 2 meds that are a risk factor for osteoporosis
- glucocorticoids
- anticonvulsants
what is the most abundant mineral in the body
- calcium
where is most of calcium stored?
- bones
- teeth
- 1% in fluids inside and outside of cells
what do blood calcium lvls look like during osteoporosis? why?
- will never appear low
- if diet is not adequate in calcium, the body will maintain blood calcium lvls by taking calcium from the bones
= osteoporosis
what are the roles of the calcium in body fluids (7)
- transport of ions across cell membranes
- nerve transmission
- maintain normal bp
- role in clotting blood
- muscle contraction –> heartbeat
- secretion of hormones, digestive enzymes, nt
- activates cellular enzymes
what are signs of calcium deficiency symptoms
- stunted growth in children
- adult bone loss (osteoporosis)
what are signs of calcium toxicity symptoms (4)
- constipation
- increased risk of kidney stone formation
- kidney dysfunction
- interference w absorption of other minerals