Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 It should be noted that calcium is closely related to magnesium and generally magnesium levels are optimized before treating the imbalances related to calcium. When the level of calcium increases significantly in the blood, the imbalance caused is known as hypercalcemia. The etiology related to this imbalance includes moans, abdominal groans, and stones. These are caused due to parathyroid tumors, breast cancer, Paget's disease, kidney failure, and excess vitamin A and D in the body. Signs and symptoms of this imbalance include the formation of stones in the kidney, abdomen pain, depression, and arrhythmias. When the level of calcium becomes too low in the blood, the imbalance is known as hypocalcemia. The main cause of hypocalcemia is a deficiency of calcium due to inadequate intake in diet and lack of parathyroid hormone in the body. Symptoms of this imbalance include muscle spasms, weakness, and arrhythmia. Magnesium Magnesium is a cofactor that helps regulate many of the enzyme activities of the body. It is associated with different metabolic activities like relaxation of smooth muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes of the lungs, contraction of the skeletal muscles, and neuron excitation in the brain. Levels of magnesium are regulated by the kidneys and are linked with metabolism activities with respect to different electrolytes like sodium, calcium, and potassium. Dietary intake acts as the source of magnesium, which is absorbed by the body. If the level of magnesium increases too much, it leads to a reduction in the magnesium by the body, and if it reduces, then magnesium is absorbed from the intestine. The imbalance caused due to an increase in magnesium levels in the blood is termed hypermagnesemia and is generally linked with kidney failure because the excretion of magnesium gets restricted. As magnesium is linked with other electrolytes, the hypermagnesemia condition leads to diseases like diabetic ketoacidosis, adrenal deficiency, hyperparathyroidism, and diseases related to hypocalcemia and hyperkalemia. Hypomagnesemia is another kind of imbalance caused due to an insufficient amount of magnesium in the bloodstream. Causes of this imbalance include dietary deficiencies, malfunctioning of intestine that curb the absorption of chemicals, and a rise in excretion. The factors that cause low levels of magnesium are excessive alcohol and malnutrition caused by it, chronic diarrhea, diuretics, and hospitalization. Signs and symptoms of magnesium imbalance are disturbances in heart rhythm, weakness in muscles, vomiting, nausea, and shortness of breath. Phosphate Phosphorous in the body is stored by combining with the element oxygen and forming phosphate ions. Most phosphate resides in the skeletal system and provides hardness to the bones after combining with calcium ions. Phosphates are also stored in cells in the body and form key nucleic Achieve Page 78