“How is sodium potassium imbalance corrected in elderly?”
My mother is suffering from a sodium potassium imbalance in her body. How should this be corrected ?
6 Answers
Oral rehydration salts. Check with your renal profile
Appropriate monitoring with electrolytes balance and correct food choices. Hydration is key. Not knowing your mother's full history or if she is on fluid restrictions, if there are not restrictions, hydration daily for her body weight/2.2 ounces of water.
You don't say whether her imbalance is from a high or low sodium or potassium; however, in my experience, most elderly patients experience lowered electrolytes, which includes sodium and potassium, from excessive hydration. This seems to occur most often in nursing homes in a patient who drinks too much water. On the other hand, a high sodium and or potassium may be due to dehydration; however, there are many diseases which can cause disturbances in electrolytes and her doctor should be able to diagnose the cause of her imbalance without too much difficulty.
Sodium and potassium are usually monitored closely with blood tests. Depending on how off balance they are often times patients need to get intravenous fluids to correct it. If they are only slightly abnormal some doctors may prescribe oral pills. However this is something that needs to be watched closely and under the supervision of a primary care doctor.
That really needs to be treated by your family doctor. Potassium levels can be critical. Sodium is table salt and by itself can be treated by diet.
See her physician for proper medication.
