Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
General Nursing Student Discussions /

Hypernatremia BP question



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 385,944 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Sep 12, 2007 06:42 PM

Hypernatremia BP question

by jsu102

I'm really struggling with fluids and electrolytes and am having a hard time undertstanding certain concepts. I've been browsing the internet and looking through several books, but there are some things that just won't sink in.

I'm confused why the BP is high in hypernatremia. I know that in hypovolemia since the water volume is low that means the BP will be low. I would think that in hypernatremia since the water is low in relationship to the sodium, there would be a similar relationship to the BP.

What am I missing?

Thanks!


Share: Submit Thread to Facebook Submit Thread to Twitter Submit Thread to Technorati Submit Thread to Google Submit Thread to Reddit

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
4 Comments
No. 1
Old Sep 12, 2007, 08:15 PM

Default Re: Hypernatremia BP question
Hi there,

It is my understanding that water follows sodium. If the sodium levels in the blood are high, water from other tissues will follow. (through osmosis?) This results in elevated BP since the total volume of fluid in the blood vessels is higher than normal. Hence, you are have fluid overload in the vascular system, and dehydration in the rest of the body.

hth,

mo
Top
 
No. 2
from KsMICT
Old Sep 13, 2007, 01:51 PM

Default Re: Hypernatremia BP question
Hypertension with associated hypernatremia would have to have some sort of renal insufficiency component whether it be the simple inability of the kidneys to properly filter waste water or the kidneys' oversecretion of aldosterone which increases sodium retention, and thus, water (and thus BP).
Top
 
No. 3
Old Sep 13, 2007, 02:29 PM

Default Re: Hypernatremia BP question
Water follows salt.


If you have a high salt content in your blood, the water from the cell will follow it, in order to achieve homeostasis.


Water follows sugar too. Water is a follower!


Just remember that the body always wants to remain homeostatic. It always wants to be normal.
Top
 
No. 4
from beachbum3
Old Sep 15, 2007, 04:36 PM

Default Re: Hypernatremia BP question
Remember that the more blood volume you have the higher your BP will be... this concept has come in handy for me in learning about many tmts for various cardiac problems (and F&E)

too much fluid = high BP
too little fluid= low BP


As far as fluid and electrolyte balances- like the others said, water follows salt. So too much salt in the blood will draw more water in causing higher fluid volume, thus raising BP.
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
113 members
1,450 guests
1,563

4

Nurse Practitioner listed with the fallen at Fort Hood

10

Hospital bill stuns slain student’s parents: $ 30,000 for 5...

27

Doctors-in-short-supply-responsibilities-for-nurses-may-expa...

13

Less regular sleep for ICU nurses may lead to errors

19

Nurse sends unused medical supplies to needy nations

24

Premature Births Are Fueling Higher Rates of Infant...

7

MRSA Strain Linked to High Death Rates

32

RI hospital fined $150,000 in 5th wrong-site surgery since...

67

Nursing: One of the 6 Thriving Jobs that are Here to Stay???

90

Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support



7

Why am I doing this, anyway?

0

Nurse Heal Thyself

7

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

15

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

13

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

29

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

17

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

17

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

23

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower

6

Searching for the Purpose





Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: