Electrolytes
- Help regulate fluid balance
- Water follows the movement of electrolytes by osmosis
- Help nerves respond to stimuli
- Signal our muscles to contract
Heat Loss?
- Evaporation
- 25% Heat Loss at rest
- Sweating
Maintaining Fluid Balance
- Thirst mechanism is stimulated by a cluster of nerves
- water loss = urine sweats exhaustion and feces
- water gain = beverages food metabolic reactions
Loss of H20
- mostly through urine
- kidneys control how much water is reabsorbed
- insensible water is lost through the skin
- diuretics increase fluid loss via urine
Maintaining Water Balance
- mostly through beverages
- metabolic water contributes 10 to 14% of body
Functions of sodium
Fluid and electrolyte balance
Required for nerve impulse transmission
1.5 g per day is the adequate intake
Hypernatremia
Abnormally high sodium concentration
Hyponatremia
Abnormally low sodium level
Functions of potassium
Fluid and electrolyte balance
Important in muscle contractions and transmission of nerve impulses
4.7 g per day is the recommended intake
Hyperkalemia
Hi blood potassium level
Hypokalemia
Low blood potassium level
Chloride
Assist immune system
Component of H CL in stomach
Minimum recommended is 2.3 g per day
Phosphorus
Required for fluid balance Critical in bone formation 85% of bodies phosphorus is in the bone Found in ATP, DNA, RNA Regulates biochemical pathways Recommended 700 mg a day
Dehydration
Water loss exceeds water intake
Heat cramps
Muscle cramps, abs, legs, spasms
Heat exhaustion
Cramps, weakness, vomit, dizzy, elevated blood pressure
Heat stroke
Occurs if the body’s temperature regulation mechanisms fail
