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Sodium and Potassium in Health and Disease

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Book cover Interrelations between Essential Metal Ions and Human Diseases

Part of the book series: Metal Ions in Life Sciences ((MILS,volume 13))

Abstract

Sodium and potassium are essential for human health. They are important ions in the body and are associated with many physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. The chapter summarizes the basic physiologic actions of sodium and potassium on membranes of the neurologic and muscular systems. It provides information regarding the kinetics, i.e., absorption, distribution, and excretion of these ions and their movement between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. It also explains the physiologic systems that can influence proper homeostasis between sodium and potassium. Concentrations of sodium in the blood that exceed or do not reach the normal value range are called hypernatremia or hyponatremia, respectively. Similarly, the clinicians recognize hyperkalemia and hypokalemia. Pathologies associated with these states are described and examples of some of the diseases are presented here.

Please cite as: Met. Ions Life Sci. 13 (2013) 29–47

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop F-57, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Hana R. Pohl, John S. Wheeler & H. Edward Murray

Authors
  1. Hana R. Pohl
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  2. John S. Wheeler
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  3. H. Edward Murray
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Correspondence to Hana R. Pohl .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Basel Stadt, Switzerland

    Astrid Sigel

  2. Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Helmut Sigel

  3. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Roland K.O. Sigel

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Pohl, H.R., Wheeler, J.S., Murray, H.E. (2013). Sodium and Potassium in Health and Disease. In: Sigel, A., Sigel, H., Sigel, R. (eds) Interrelations between Essential Metal Ions and Human Diseases. Metal Ions in Life Sciences, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7500-8_2

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