Describe the relationship between the electrolytes, potassium and sodium, and edema


Potassium maintains the fluid level within the cell and sodium maintains it outside the cell. Normally, there is more potassium than sodium inside and more sodium than potassium outside the cell. When this balance is upset, the sodium amount increases, and so does the fluid level within the cell. This results in edema. If the sodium level outside the cell drops, fluid enters the cell to dilute the potassium level, thereby causing a reduction of extracellular fluid, which in turn causes a decrease in blood pressure and dehydration.

Nutritional Science

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