Question

1-Homeostatic imbalances in fluid and electrolytes are related to many other conditions. Detail the conditions identified as risk factors for a potassium imbalance.

2- Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is a serious and life-threatening condition occurring in persons who are critically ill or injured. Discuss the syndrome in your own words.

3- List 10 of the identified common signs of adverse drug reactions in both the general population and the aging population.

4-Identify the five general functions of the endocrine system and give a specific example of each function.

Answer 1

Answer 1.

The conditions which cause potassium imbalance are:

For hyperkalemia:

• Renal failure: Due to decreased renal ion excretion and medications hypokalemia can be noted
• Diabetes mellitus: the combination of potassium shift out of cells and diminished urine potassium cause hyperkalemia
• Adrenal disease: the major function of aldosterone is to maintain potassium levels, if there is a condition of hypoaldosteronism then it leads to hyperkalemia
• Usage of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: it causes decreased aldosterone concentration, decrease delivery of sodium to distal neuron, abnormal collecting tubule function and excessive potassium intake

For hypokalemia:

• Diarrhoea and vomiting: due to gastrointestinal loss of potassium, an intracellular shift of potassium leads to hypokalemia
• Medicines like diuretics: diuretics helps to eliminate sodium and water from the body in the form of urine which causes hypokalemia
• Heart failure: due to shift of potassium into cells and due to increased activity of sodium and potassium pump and thereby cause hypokalemia
• Hypertension: the common cause of hypokalemia in hypertension is use of diuretics
• Alcoholism: Alcohol can cause muscle to breakdown, which release high amount of potassium from muscle cells to bloodstream
• Cushing's syndrome: the elevated cortisol level leads to decrease in potassium levels in blood