Condition Lookup
Category:
Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Number of Conditions: 8
Hyperkalemia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
weakness; fatigue; tingling sensations; palpitations; arrhythmias; cardiac arrest in severe cases
Root Cause:
Elevated potassium levels in the blood due to reduced excretion, excessive intake, or cellular release.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing serum potassium >5.0 mEq/L, ECG changes (e.g., peaked T waves), and clinical history.
Treatment:
Stabilization with calcium gluconate, potassium-lowering therapies like insulin, beta-agonists, and dialysis in severe cases.
Medications:
Calcium gluconate (stabilizes cardiac membrane ), insulin with glucose, sodium polystyrene sulfonate , or patiromer (potassium binders).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in patients with renal impairment or on potassium-sparing medications.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Kidney failure, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium supplements, and acidosis.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early intervention; untreated severe hyperkalemia can be fatal.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and muscle paralysis.
Hypokalemia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
muscle weakness; cramping; fatigue; constipation; arrhythmias; paralysis in severe cases
Root Cause:
Low potassium levels in the blood due to increased loss (e.g., via kidneys or gastrointestinal tract), inadequate intake, or intracellular shifts.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L, ECG changes (e.g., flattened T waves), and clinical history.
Treatment:
Potassium replacement through oral or IV supplementation, addressing the underlying cause.
Medications:
Potassium chloride (oral or IV), potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone or eplerenone if necessary.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, particularly in patients taking diuretics or with gastrointestinal losses.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diuretic use, vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition, and renal tubular disorders.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with prompt correction; severe cases can result in cardiac arrest.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Arrhythmias, rhabdomyolysis, and paralysis.
Hyponatremia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; confusion; headache; seizures; fatigue; restlessness; muscle weakness or spasms; coma in severe cases
Root Cause:
Low sodium concentration in the blood, often caused by excessive water retention, sodium loss, or a combination of both.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring serum sodium levels (<135 mEq/L), urine sodium and osmolality, and clinical evaluation of symptoms.
Treatment:
Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause, restricting fluid intake, or administering sodium supplementation. Severe cases may require hypertonic saline.
Medications:
Tolvaptan or conivaptan (vasopressin receptor antagonists), diuretics like loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide ) for certain cases, and sodium chloride for supplementation.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, particularly in hospitalized patients; estimated at 15–30% in such settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Heart failure, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, SIADH, use of diuretics, excessive water intake, and advanced age.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good if treated promptly, but severe hyponatremia can lead to permanent neurological damage or death if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cerebral edema, seizures, coma, central pontine myelinolysis (from overly rapid correction).
Hypercalcemia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; constipation; polyuria; kidney stones; confusion; lethargy; arrhythmias
Root Cause:
Elevated calcium levels in the blood due to increased bone resorption, excessive intake, or abnormal regulation by parathyroid hormone.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing serum calcium >10.5 mg/dL, PTH levels, and clinical evaluation of symptoms.
Treatment:
IV fluids, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and addressing the underlying cause (e.g., surgery for hyperparathyroidism).
Medications:
Bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate , zoledronic acid), calcitonin (reduces calcium levels), and corticosteroids for specific conditions.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, particularly in patients with malignancy or hyperparathyroidism.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, excessive calcium/vitamin D intake, and prolonged immobility.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with proper treatment; severe hypercalcemia can lead to renal failure or cardiac arrest.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis, arrhythmias, and neuropsychiatric disturbances.
Hypocalcemia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
tetany; muscle cramps; paresthesias; seizures; cardiac arrhythmias; dry skin; brittle nails
Root Cause:
Low calcium levels in the blood due to parathyroid hormone deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, or other metabolic disturbances.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing serum calcium <8.5 mg/dL, ionized calcium levels, and clinical evaluation of symptoms.
Treatment:
Calcium supplementation (oral or IV), vitamin D therapy, and treating the underlying cause.
Medications:
Calcium gluconate or calcium chloride (IV), calcium carbonate or citrate (oral), and vitamin D supplements (e.g., calcitriol ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively common in hospitalized patients and those with parathyroid disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hypoparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency, and magnesium depletion.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely correction; severe cases can cause life-threatening complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Tetany, seizures, cardiac arrest, and cataracts.
Hypermagnesemia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; weakness; hypotension; respiratory depression; bradycardia; lethargy; decreased deep tendon reflexes; cardiac arrest in severe cases
Root Cause:
Excess magnesium in the blood, often due to impaired kidney function, excessive magnesium intake, or use of magnesium-containing medications.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests to measure serum magnesium levels, alongside kidney function tests and electrolyte panels.
Treatment:
Discontinuation of magnesium-containing products, intravenous calcium gluconate (to stabilize cardiac membranes), diuretics to promote magnesium excretion, and dialysis in severe cases.
Medications:
Calcium gluconate (calcium supplement and cardioprotective agent), diuretics such as furosemide (loop diuretic).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in the general population; more common in individuals with chronic kidney disease or excessive magnesium intake.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Renal failure, use of magnesium-containing antacids or laxatives, and intravenous magnesium therapy.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with prompt treatment, but severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and neuromuscular dysfunction.
Hypomagnesemia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
muscle cramps; tremors; weakness; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; irritability; confusion; seizures; cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., prolonged qt interval)
Root Cause:
Low magnesium levels in the blood due to inadequate dietary intake, increased excretion via kidneys or gastrointestinal tract, or certain medications.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring serum magnesium levels; additional evaluations may include kidney function tests and assessment of other electrolytes (e.g., calcium and potassium).
Treatment:
Address underlying causes, magnesium supplementation (oral or intravenous), and correction of associated electrolyte imbalances.
Medications:
Magnesium supplements, such as magnesium oxide (oral) or magnesium sulfate (IV for severe cases). These are electrolyte supplements.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in hospitalized patients (up to 10%–20%) and in individuals with chronic illnesses.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic alcoholism, malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn’s disease), diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, and diabetes.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with timely diagnosis and treatment, but prolonged or severe cases can lead to significant complications if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, muscle paralysis, and refractory hypocalcemia or hypokalemia.
Hypernatremia
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disorders
Symptoms:
thirst; confusion; irritability; muscle twitching; weakness; seizures; coma in severe cases
Root Cause:
Elevated sodium concentration in the blood due to water loss exceeding sodium loss or excessive sodium intake.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring serum sodium levels (>145 mEq/L) and clinical evaluation of symptoms.
Treatment:
Gradual rehydration with hypotonic or isotonic fluids, addressing the underlying cause of water loss.
Medications:
No specific medications; treatment focuses on fluid replacement and correcting underlying conditions like diabetes insipidus with desmopressin .
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Less common than hyponatremia; more frequent in elderly patients and those with limited access to water.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dehydration, diabetes insipidus, hyperaldosteronism, osmotic diuresis, and impaired thirst mechanism.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if addressed early, but severe cases can result in brain shrinkage, bleeding, or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cerebral bleeding, thrombosis, and neurological damage.