Table of contents:
- Definition
- What is hypokalemia?
- How important is potassium for the body?
- Maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular health
- Risk
- Cause
- Causes of hypokalemia
- Excessive urination
- Diuretic
- Gag
- Excessive sweating
- Vitamin or mineral imbalance
- Treatment
- Alcohol abuse
- Operation
- Symptoms
- Symptoms of hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
- Weakening of muscles
- Muscle cramps, pain and stiffness
- Fatigue and mood swings
- When should I see a doctor?
- Associated disorders
- Diseases associated with hyopkalemia
- Diagnosis
- Hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) diagnosis
- Diagnostic evaluation
- The amount of potassium in the urine
- Assessment of acid-base status
- Treatment
- Treatment for hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
- Foods to prevent hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
Definition
What is hypokalemia?
Hypokalemia or potassium deficiency is a condition when the level of potassium in the blood is lower than the normal limit.
Potassium helps carry electrical signals to cells in your body. This substance is important for carrying out the functions of nerve and muscle cells, especially the heart muscle.
Normally, the potassium level in your blood is 3.5-5.2 mmol / L. Very low levels of potassium (less than 2.5 mmol / L) can be life-threatening and require emergency medical attention.
In elderly people, hypokalemia can reduce organ function, lose appetite, and cause certain diseases. Some of the medications they take can increase the risk of hypokalemia.
How important is potassium for the body?
Potassium is a mineral in the blood that carries an electric charge. These minerals are called electrolytes. Potassium works together with other electrolytes to help the body do many things, including:
Maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular health
Continuously low potassium intake can make blood pressure rise and cause cardiovascular problems.
One way to overcome increased blood pressure is by limiting salt intake. Not only that, consuming potassium can also lower blood pressure.
Increasing potassium intake coupled with a decrease in sodium consumption is very important to reduce the source of cardiovascular disease.
In one study, those who consumed 4,069 mg of potassium per day had a 47 percent lower risk of death.
Treatment of bones and muscles
Foods that contain potassium keep the body alkaline, unlike acidosis.
Metabolic acidosis is triggered by a diet full of acidifying foods, such as meat, dairy products, and refined cereal grains. A diet (diet) high in potassium can help maintain muscle mass.
In the elderly, the diet tends to cause muscle wasting, such as diabetic ketosis. However, adequate potassium intake can help prevent this.
One study found that participants who consumed 5,266 milligrams of potassium per day maintained an average of 3.6 pounds more lean tissue mass.
Other studies have also shown increased bone density with high potassium intake. In addition, potassium also works for the following things:
- Receives nutrients to individual cells and removes cell waste
- Balances acid and alkaline levels
- Operates electrical impulses for healthy nerve function
- Receives and sends messages to the brain to make muscles work when using it
- Regulates heart rate
The kidneys control the amount of potassium in your body by removing excess levels through urine. Your kidneys maintain a balance between the levels of potassium and other electrolytes in the body to function properly.
Risk
Besides having many benefits, potassium can also cause health problems if consumed in excess. If your kidneys are functioning properly, you probably won't have problems related to potassium in the urine.
There are very few reports of potassium deterioration related to intake of high potassium supplements. There are no foods containing potassium that have been reported to have bad effects on the body.
Potassium is essential for the proper functioning of your body, but potassium doesn't do any good on its own.
Diet and overall dietary balance are very important to improve health and prevent disease.
Cause
Causes of hypokalemia
Potassium deficiency or hypokalemia has many causes. The most common cause is losing too much potassium in the urine after taking prescription drugs that increase urination (diuretics).
These types of drugs are water pills or diuretics intended for patients with high blood pressure or heart disease.
In addition, vomiting and / or diarrhea can also cause you to lose a lot of potassium. The diet or diet that you live on can also cause the body to lack potassium.
The following are common causes of hypokalemia or potassium deficiency quoted from published articles Diversity Home Health Group:
Excessive urination
Urinating is a common way your body removes excess potassium. Your kidneys are responsible for this process.
Kidney disorders and diseases can cause you to lose a lot of potassium through the excretion of urine. The disorder can also diminish the kidneys' ability to regulate potassium levels in the blood.
Diuretic
Diuretics or water pills are a common treatment for elderly people with high blood pressure and heart disease. Diuretics can increase the urge to urinate and thus reduce the level of potassium in the blood.
Gag
Severe vomiting can lead to malnutrition and reduce potassium intake. Eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia, also cause potassium levels to drop, resulting in hypokalemia.
Excessive sweating
Sweating is another way the body gets rid of excess potassium levels. However, excessive sweating in hot temperatures or during physical activity can cause potassium levels to decrease.
Vitamin or mineral imbalance
Excess sodium, low magnesium levels, and folic acid deficiency can also contribute to low potassium levels.
Treatment
Apart from diuretics and laxatives, some medications also have an adverse effect on the body's ability to absorb and use potassium.
These drugs are insulin, some steroids, and some antibiotics that are associated with hypokalemia.
Alcohol abuse
Excessive alcohol use significantly increases the risk of low potassium levels. When you consume alcohol, it will enter your bloodstream and pass through all the organs in your body.
Alcohol will damage the ability of your organs to regulate the electrolytes and water balance you need.
Operation
Some surgeries can reduce the body's ability to absorb potassium. Some of these include gallbladder removal and surgery bypass stomach.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
A small drop in potassium levels may not cause any symptoms, but they can appear mild.
A research on European Journal of Emergency Medicine shows that there are 4,846 people who were admitted to the hospital because of hypokalemia. However, only 1% experience symptoms of potassium deficiency.
The following symptoms may occur when you experience hypokalemia (lack of potassium):
Weakening of muscles
Potassium helps your muscles work after receiving messages from the brain. Reduced potassium levels will interfere with communication between your brain and muscles.
When your potassium levels are so low, some of your muscles can't work at all.
Muscle cramps, pain and stiffness
Impaired communication between the brain and muscles can make your muscles contract too tightly. As a result, you will experience cramps.
Potassium also controls the availability of blood in your muscles. When blood flow is not smooth, your muscles will begin to break down. At that time, the muscles will also feel sore and stiff.
Fatigue and mood swings
Potassium affects your body to absorb nutrients. When your body can't absorb and receive all the goodness of the nutrients you eat, you will feel tired and have erratic mood swings.
Constipation
Digestion requires the muscles in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines to work properly. When food passes through your digestive system, potassium passes messages from your brain to your muscles.
When the potassium levels in the body are not enough, the muscles will not work effectively. It will make your stomach cramp and slow down the digestion of food.
Heart palpitations
Your heart is a muscle, which, like any muscle, is heavily dependent on potassium for normal contraction and relaxation. When you are deficient in potassium, you will experience heart palpitations.
Palpitations is the sensation when your heart suddenly beats very fast and fast. You may be able to notice the sensation through your chest, throat, or neck.
Irregular heartbeat
Meanwhile, a large decrease in potassium levels will cause irregular heartbeats, especially in heart disease patients. This can cause you to feel dizzy or faint. Very low levels of potassium can even cause your heart to stop.
Difficulty breathing
The relationship between potassium and muscle health plays an important role in your ability to breathe normally.
Low potassium levels can weaken the diaphragm and make breathing difficult. Shortness of breath is also a symptom of decreased heart function due to low potassium levels.
When should I see a doctor?
If left untreated, hypokalemia can be life threatening. Very low levels of potassium can cause the heart to stop beating. If you experience the symptoms that have been mentioned, consult a doctor immediately.
Ask your doctor about your blood test results. You may need to take medication that can affect the level of potassium in the blood or you may need treatment to remove the cause of the drop in your potassium level.
Treatment for hypokalaemic patients focuses directly on the cause. You may also be given a potassium supplement. Do not take any supplements without a doctor's prescription.
Associated disorders
Diseases associated with hyopkalemia
Bartter's Syndrome
Bartter's Syndrome is a metabolic disorder involving the kidneys. Common symptoms that occur are slow growth, weakness, thirst and excessive urination. This syndrome is characterized by excess loss of potassium through the kidneys.
Hypokalemia periodic paralysis
It is a disorder characterized by paralysis with loss of deep tendon reflexes and failure of the muscles to respond to electrical stimulation.
Metabolic alkalosis
A disorder characterized by an increase in blood bicarbonate. Symptoms include irritability, hyperexcitability, neuromuscularity, low potassium levels (hypokalemia), muscle weakness, digestive motility disorders, and excessive urination.
Diagnosis
Hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) diagnosis
The health worker will ask you to do a blood test to check your potassium levels. Normal levels are in the numbers 3.7 to 5.2 mmol / L.
Blood tests may also be done to check for other things, such as the following:
- Glucose, magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus
- Thyroid hormone
- Aldosterone
You may also be advised to do an Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the condition of the heart.
Diagnostic evaluation
In general, there are two components of the diagnostic evaluation for hypokalemia:
The amount of potassium in the urine
The excretion (excretion) of potassium in the urine collected 24 hours is the best way to assess how much potassium is in the urine.
If the excretion is above 15 mEq of potassium per day, this is an indication of an inappropriate decrease in renal potassium.
Measurement of potassium and creatinine concentrations can be done in a small urine sample, if 24-hour urine collection is not possible.
After determining whether there is renal potassium removal, the assessment of acid-base status can further narrow down the differential diagnosis.
Assessment of acid-base status
Once the excretion of potassium in the urine is measured, a diagnostic stage will be carried out when your doctor discovers the possibility of indeterminate hypokalemia.
Treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
Treatment for hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
If your condition is still mild, your doctor may suggest taking oral potassium pills. However, if it is severe, you need additional potassium through a vein (IV).
If you are taking a diuretic, your doctor may replace your prescription with a drug that can maintain potassium levels in the body.
This type is called a potassium-sparing diuretic. Your doctor can also give you a prescription for additional potassium which you should consume regularly.
However, doctors also need to be careful when prescribing treatments for hypokalemia as too much potassium may lead to excessive potassium levels in the body or hyperkalemia.
Foods to prevent hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
The safest and easiest way to increase your potassium intake is to regulate your diet.
Diversity Home Health Group said experts recommend that adults should get 4,700 milligrams of potassium in the diet.
There are many delicious foods that can raise the potassium levels in your body.
Bananas are one of the foods that contain potassium that is most often recommended, even though there are many other foods that contain no less potassium than bananas.
Foods that contain potassium include:
- Leafy greens, especially beets, cabbage, and spinach
- Mushroom
- Avocado
- Baked potatoes
- Banana
- Carrot
- Cooked lean beef
- Milk
- Orange
- Peanut butter
- Nuts
- Salmon
- Seaweed
- Tomato
- Wheat seeds
- Animal products, such as beef, pork, poultry, crang, fish and dairy products
Taking potassium supplements can usually solve this problem. But in severe cases, without proper use, a severe drop in potassium levels can cause irregular heartbeats and be fatal.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
