Kaliuresis
Encyclopedia
Kaliuresis is the process of excreting potassium
in the urine
.
Thiazide diuretics are used to treat patients with heart failure. Their goal is to decrease the amount of salt (sodium) in the body by decreasing the amount that the kidney reabsorbs. This excess sodium in the kidneys that is destined for excretion (urination) can cause Hyponatremia
(low sodium) and can lead to kaliuresis by increasing sodium-potassium exchange.
Potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction.Potassium and sodium are...
in the urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
.
Thiazide diuretics are used to treat patients with heart failure. Their goal is to decrease the amount of salt (sodium) in the body by decreasing the amount that the kidney reabsorbs. This excess sodium in the kidneys that is destined for excretion (urination) can cause Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. In the vast majority of cases, hyponatremia occurs as a result of excess body water diluting the serum sodium and is not due to sodium deficiency. Sodium is the dominant extracellular...
(low sodium) and can lead to kaliuresis by increasing sodium-potassium exchange.