Fluid overload commonly leads to which electrolyte abnormality?

Fluid overload commonly leads to which electrolyte abnormality?

• A. Hyponatremia
• B. Hypernatremia
• C. Hyperkalemia
• D. Hypokalemia

Answer: (A)

Fluid overload expands the extracellular fluid with excess water relative to sodium, diluting serum sodium and causing hyponatremia. In conditions like heart failure or advanced kidney disease, the body retains water due to factors like ADH activity, so total body sodium may be normal or only mildly increased while the sodium concentration falls. The other electrolyte changes (hyperkalemia or hypokalemia) are not products of volume overload itself and hypernatremia would result from excess sodium or water loss rather than from fluid excess.

Fluid overload expands the extracellular fluid with excess water relative to sodium, diluting serum sodium and causing hyponatremia. In conditions like heart failure or advanced kidney disease, the body retains water due to factors like ADH activity, so total body sodium may be normal or only mildly increased while the sodium concentration falls. The other electrolyte changes (hyperkalemia or hypokalemia) are not products of volume overload itself and hypernatremia would result from excess sodium or water loss rather than from fluid excess.