Monday 5 July 2010

When Your Potassium Is Too Low


If you have hypokalemia, that means you have low levels of potassium in your blood. Potassium is an important mineral found in your body. You need it for the proper function of the nerves, muscles and organs. Potassium has a slight electrical charge and is called an electrolyte. Hypokalemia is an electrolyte disorder. It is also known as a potassium deficiency.
Hypokalemia symptoms
Mild hypokalemia usually has no symptoms.
Moderate hypokalemia symptoms may include:
  • Muscle weakness
  • Constipation
  • Thirst
  • Fatigue
  • Cramps during exercise
  • Leg discomfort when sitting still
Severe hypokalemia symptoms may include:
  • Extreme weakness
  • Trouble breathing
  • Paralysis
  • Abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
What are the causes of hypokalemia?
Hypokalemia can be caused by kidney problems, malnutrition or a depletion of your body's potassium stores. Your body can lose potassium from diarrhea, vomiting, overuse of laxatives or even excessive sweating.
Hypokalemia can also develop as a side effect of certain medications, especially certain types of diuretics or "water pills." Diuretics are used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure and liver or kidney disease. Other medications, such as insulin or steroids, can also affect potassium levels in your body.
Hypokalemia treatment
In most cases, hypokalemia can be successfully treated. If it is a mild case, you may just need to eat more foods that contain potassium. In some cases, you may need to add a potassium supplement to your diet.
If medications are causing the problem, your doctor may change your medication or its dosage. You may also need to take a potassium supplement.
If you have severe hypokalemia, you may need hospital care to receive potassium by IV (through the vein).
Getting enough potassium
A healthy adult needs about 4,700 milligrams of potassium a day. Because it is found in many foods, most people get enough of it in their regular diet. You usually won't need a supplement if you are eating a healthy, balanced diet.
You can replace potassium lost during heavy exercise by drinking sports drinks that contain electrolytes.
If you take diuretics, be sure to get enough potassium-rich foods in your diet, including:
  • Sweet potatoes and baked potatoes
  • Tomato paste, tomato juice and tomato sauce
  • Beans, soybeans and lentils
  • Yogurt and low-fat milk
  • Tuna, halibut, rockfish and cod
  • Bananas, peaches, prunes, apricots and cantaloupe
  • Spinach

Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is a metabolic imbalance characterized by extremely low potassium levels in the blood. It is a symptom of another disease or condition, or a side effect of diuretic drugs. The body needs potassium for the contraction of muscles (including the heart), and for the functioning of many complicated proteins (enzymes). Potassium is found primarily in the skeletal muscle and bone, and participates with sodium to contribute to the normal flow of body fluids between the cells in the body. The normal concentration of potassium in the body is regulated by the kidneys through the excretion of urine. When the kidneys are functioning normally, the amount of potassium in the diet is sufficient for use by the body and the excess is usually excreted through urine and sweat. Body chemicals and hormones such as aldosterone also regulate potassium balance. Secretion of the hormone insulin, which is normally stimulated by food, prevents a temporary diet-induced Hypokalemia by increasing cell absorption of potassium. When Hypokalemia occurs, there is an imbalance resulting from a dysfunction in this normal process, or the rapid loss of urine or sweat without replacement of sufficient potassium.