Why is a 2-mEq/L increase above normal for the serum potassium level more significant than a 2- mEq/L increase above normal for the serum sodium level?
A. Potassium plays a greater role in maintaining fluid osmolarity than sodium.
B. More foods contain high concentrations of sodium than high concentrations of potassium.
C. The intracellular concentrations of potassium and chloride are higher than the intracellular concentrations of sodium and chloride.
D. The serum potassium range is lower and narrower than for sodium; thus, any change in potassium concentration is proportionally greater than the same change in serum sodium concentration.
D
Normal serum levels for sodium range between 135 and 145 mEq/L and normal serum levels for potassium range between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L. Thus, an increase of 2 mEq/L for potassium represents a larger percentage increase (40% to 65%) than it does for sodium (3% to 4%).
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