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Heart Failure - Electrolytes
September 5th 2009 08:35
Heart failure patients are prone for electrolyte disturbance due to activation of renin angiotension system with changes in serum levels of aldosterone and ADH hormones. Heart failure also causes kidney failure in some cases due to decreased heart pumping capacity. In addition to medical therapy with diuretics and ACE inhibitor therapy can cause electrolyte changes which results in heart rate irregularities leading to cardiac arrest or exacerbation of heart failure. So frequent monitoring and correction of electrolytes abnormalities can restore regular rhythm with improved symptoms and survival rate.
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Comment by sam sall
Health and Fitness
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diuretics like spironolacton which is very good med for HF but can cause increase in potassium and pt whenever started on it he/she needed to be seen in matter of 7 days and if every is OK the doctor can see them after 1 month then routinely every 2-3months
Some of HF pts are also on digoxine this medication with low K level can increase the likehood to develop toxic digoxine level. Any pt on it need to have normal K level. any pt with kidney failure and on digoxine must see her/his doc to change it if possible as those pt also at risk of developing toxic level.
Thanks Health is Wealth for writing such an important and informative topic