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© Dirk Biddle
i) Potassium levels are controlled by the kidneys. Potassium is important for the proper functioning of the nerves and muscles, particularly the heart (it is essential to regulate how the heart beats). When potassium levels are too high or too low, it can increase the risk of an abnormal heartbeat. Low potassium levels are also associated with muscle weakness. Any value outside the expected range, high or low, requires medical assessment. This is especially important if you are taking a diuretic (water pill) or heart pill (Digitalis, Lanoxin, etc.).
ii) Sodium levels are regulated by the kidneys and adrenal glands. Sodium plays a major role in regulating the amount of water in the body. Also, the passage of sodium in and out of cells is necessary for many body functions, like transmitting electrical signals in the brain and in the muscles. There are numerous causes of high and low sodium levels, but the most common causes of low sodium are diuretic usage, diabetes drugs like chlorpropamide and excessive water intake in patients with heart or liver disease.
If a child becomes dehydrated because of vomiting, diarrhoea, or inadequate fluid intake, sodium levels can be abnormally high or low, which can cause a child to feel confused, weak, and lethargic, and even to have seizures (16).
iii) Chloride is an electrolyte found in the blood that plays a role in the function of the body's cell membranes. Chloride helps maintain a balance of fluids in the body.. It is important in maintaining the body's normal acid/base balance. If there's a large loss of chloride, the blood may become more acidic and prevent necessary chemical reactions from occurring in the body High or low values of chloride are interpreted in relation to the other levels of electrolytes.
iv) The carbon dioxide (CO2) buffer system assists in the transport of carbon dioxide from the tissue to the lungs. CO2 levels reflect the acid status of your blood. Low CO2 levels can be due to either to increased acidity from uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, or low CO2 can be due to chronic hyperventilation.
Almost all of the CO2 dissolved in the blood is changed to bicarbonate.
v) Bicarbonate (HCO3) prevents the body's tissues from getting too much or too little acid. The acid-base balance of a solution is called pH. Substances called buffers keep the pH of the blood from varying over too wide a range. Bicarbonate is the most important buffer in the blood and prevents blood from becoming too acidic
The kidney and lungs balance the levels of bicarbonate in the body. So if bicarbonate levels are too high or low, it might indicate that there's a problem with those organs.
Arterial, rather than venous blood is required for this test (from inside the wrist, elbow, or groin).