Kidneys To Regulate Fluids In The Body

Kidneys involve greatly in helping body to regulate fluids and electrolytes. Fluids and electrolytes are filtered by the glomerulus and collected in the nephron’s tubules. Some fluids and electrolytes are reabsorbed at varies segments (proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, collecting duct) along the nephron. Others are excreted via urine(3). Sodium and potassium are two of the most important electrolytes that is filtered in the kidney. Fluids in the body drops rapidly if too much sodium is excreted. Too much potassium build up in the body can lead to dangerous, and possibly deadly, changes in the heart rhythm(4). Diuretics help patients to increase urine production, and are clinically used to treat hypertension, heart failure, electrolyte imbalances, and kidney disease. They have huge impact on electrolyte balance in the body, especially the sodium level. Patients with suspected fluid and electrolyte imbalances have to be monitored carefully by the health care team when taking a diuretic as it can worsen the existing imbalance(3). …show more content…
This result indicates furosemide has the strongest diuretic effect among these three agents. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that decreases reabsorption of sodium, chloride and potassium from the tubule. It inhibits the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter (NKCC2) in the ascending thick loop of Henle by competing with the Cl- binding site(6). Since it prevents NaCl from moving into the blood at this site, water reabsorption is reduced in the collecting duct due to failure in generating an osmotic gradient of Na+ and Cl- concentration between surrounding blood vessel and the collecting duct(7). According to the graph (3) and (4), there is a great increase in Na+ and K+ excretion in people with furosemide. Clinically, excessive loss of Na+ and K+ can develop hypovolaemia and