Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo

Regulating fluids.
Figure 19.1 Successful regulation of fluid and electrolytes is a vital component to maintaining homeostasis within the human body. (credit: modification of “U.S. Navy Sailors spend time working in Valleywise Medical Center supporting the community” by Navy Medicine/Flickr, Public Domain)

In a healthy state, the mass of the human body mass is 50 percent to 80 percent water (Lorenzo et al., 2019). The water percentage variances occur because of differences in lean muscle versus fat. Lean muscle consists of approximately 70 percent water, whereas fat is only approximately 10 percent water (Lorenzo et al., 2019). For this reason, even in healthy individuals, age and activity status have a significant impact the risk for excess or deficiency of body water. Young children who have yet to develop significant lean muscle, older adults who have lost lean muscle, and individuals who, for a variety of reasons, have differing levels of lean muscle are at greater risk for a water deficit.

The human body maintains a delicate balance of fluids and electrolytes to help ensure proper functioning and homeostasis. When fluid or electrolyte levels become imbalanced, individuals are at risk for organ system dysfunction. If an imbalance goes undetected and is left untreated, organ systems cannot function properly and, ultimately, death will occur. Nurses must be able to recognize subtle changes in fluid or electrolyte balances in their patients so they can intervene promptly. Timely assessment and intervention prevent complications and save lives.

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/clinical-nursing-skills/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/clinical-nursing-skills/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jun 25, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.