Importance of fluid and electrolyte balance in health-2

Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances

The levels of fluid and electrolytes in the body are largely controlled by the kidneys, lungs, and hypothalamus. A fluid and electrolyte imbalance in the body can cause serious sickness or even death. Electrolytes are also lost when a person loses body fluids through sweating, urinating, vomiting, diarrhea, or bleeding. As listed below, there are several ways to correct the imbalances:

• Oral rehydration therapy
• Naso gastrict feeding
• Intravenous therapy

Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)

Oral rehydration treatment (ORT) is the term used to describe the oral administration of fluids and electrolytes as liquids or solids into the GI tract. ORT is specifically used to treat infants' and kids' dehydration brought on by diarrhea or vomiting. One major advantage of ORT is that water is absorbed into the body from the gastrointestinal tract even if the patient is still losing fluid from their body through frequent loose stools or vomiting. It is a cheap and easy form of therapy.

In ORT, a variety of fluids can be used. These consist of simple water, rice water, vegetable broth, weak tea, yogurt drinks, and homemade water, salt, and sugar recipes. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) packets that are ready to mix with water are another form of commercially available preparations. A standard ratio of salt, sugar, and water makes up the majority of a basic oral rehydration therapy solution. Examples comprise:

• 30 ml sugar: 2.5 ml salt: 1 liter water
• 6 tsp. sugar: 0.5 tsp salt 1 liter water

Naso-Gastric Feeding (NG Feeding)

Naso-gastric feeding (NG feeding) is the process of injecting fluids and electrolytes using tubes like naso-gastric (NG) tubs. A NG tube is used to supply nutrients to a person's gastro intestinal system throughout this process. It is indicated when the client cannot take it orally, when they are unconscious, when they are having upper GI surgery, etc. By using an NG tube, a liquid diet such as juice or vegetable soups can be administered.

Intravenous Therapy

Intravenous therapy is the term used to describe the provision of fluids and electrolytes through peripheral or central venous sites as a continuous infusion, bolus, or IV push injection. Intravenous fluid replenishment is recommended and may even be lifesaving in cases of extreme dehydration. It is helpful when there is a fluid shortage in both vascular areas and intracellular regions. Additionally, fluid replacement is advised in cases of fluid depletion brought on by hemorrhage, severe burns, heavy perspiration (as a result of an extended fever), and protracted diarrhea (cholera).

Types of Re-hydration Solutions (Replacement Fluids)

The concentration or tonicity of the replacement solutions or fluids is used to classify them. Hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic replacement solutions are the three main categories.

• Tonicity: The osmotic pressure gradient between two solutions separated by a semipermeable membrane is referred to as a solution's tonicity.
• Semipermeable Membrane: It is a cell barrier that only lets specific molecules pass. Proteins cannot cross the barrier, but things like water molecules can. Two solutions are separated by a semipermeable membrane, and tocinity measures the difference in osmotic pressure between them.
•  Osmotic Pressure Gradient: It refers to the amount of pressure required to prevent water from passing through that membrane. Water keeps the solute concentrations on either side of a membrane equal. Water is used to dilute a solute by moving from areas of high solute concentration (low water concentration) to low solute concentration (high water concentration) across a semipermeable membrane.
•  Hypotonic  Solution: It refers to the amount of pressure required to prevent water from passing through that membrane. Water keeps the solute concentrations on either side of a membrane equal. Water is used to dilute a solute by moving from areas of high solute concentration (low water concentration) to low solute concentration (high water concentration) over a semipermeable barrier.
•  Isotonic Solution: It describes any solution that contains the same amount of solutes as blood plasma and cells. It shares plasma's osmolality. Therefore, the infusion of this kind of solution does not change the osmolality of the vascular space. Water diffuses in and out evenly because the solute concentration is the same inside the cell as outside. Examples include normal saline (NS), ringer lactate, and dextrose 5% in water (D5W).
•  Hypertonic Solution: Any solution with a higher concentration of solutes than a solution is referred to as such (as cells and blood plasma). Infusion of this kind of solution, which has a higher osmolality than plasma, can considerably increase plasma osmolality. To balance the concentration of solutes in the cell and its surrounding environment after infusion, mostly water will migrate through the cell membrane. As water exits the cell, the cell will contract to lessen the increased solute content in the environment. Excessive dosing might result in complications such high vascular volume, pulmonary edema, and heart failure. Examples include total parenteral nutrition (TPN), whole blood, albumin, intense dextrose solutions (10% or greater), etc.