Low Potassium Symptoms | Hypokalemia | Potassium Deficiency Symptoms - Causes & Treatment
Are you feeling tired? Experiencing muscle aches and weakness? Suffering from diarrhea or constipation? If yes, you might have a potassium deficiency! In this video, we'll be discussing low potassium symptoms, including hypokalemia and potassium deficiency symptoms, and will provide tips on how to treat them.
If you're suffering from low potassium levels, this video is for you. We'll discuss the causes and symptoms of low potassium, and provide tips on how to get your potassium levels back to normal. Learn how to treat low potassium symptoms with food, supplements and medications, so you can get back to your normal life!
Potassium is one of the essential macrominerals the human body needs to support key processes.
Functions of potassium;
• Sending nerve signals.
• Regulating muscle contractions.
• Regulating fluids.
Potassium deficiency, also known as Hypokalemia, is when the amount of potassium in your blood is too low. Normal levels of potassium for an adult range from 3.5 to 5.2 mEq/L (3.5 to 5.2 mmol/L). Potassium deficiency is characterized by potassium levels lower than 3.5 mmol/liter. Any value less than 3 mEq/L (3 mmol/L) is considered severe hypokalemia.
What are the symptoms of hypokalemia/Potassium Deficiency/Low Potassium Symptoms?
• Constipation.
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
• Muscle weakness and spasms.
• Tingling and numbness.
• Lightheadedness or faintness.
• Breathing problems.
• High blood pressure (Hypertension).
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
• Excessive urination (polyuria) & Excessive thirst (polydipsia).
• Severe muscle weakness, leading to paralysis.
How is hypokalemia treated?
• Oral or intravenous potassium supplementation.
• Liquid preparations such as potassium chloride are effective in raising the serum potassium concentrations.
• Microencapsulated of oral potassium.
• Intravenous Potassium - In severe hypokalemia or in patients who are unresponsive to oral therapy, it becomes necessary to administer intravenous potassium.
• Magnesium Therapy - When hypomagnesemia is the cause of hypokalemia, concurrent slow intravenous magnesium should be given.
What Causes Potassium Deficiency?
• Hypokalemia or potassium deficiency has many causes. Common causes of low blood potassium include.
• Excessive loss of potassium in your digestive tract. This may be due to frequent vomiting, diarrhea, or laxative use.
• Excessive potassium loss in urine due to prescription medications that increase urination. These medications include diuretics also known as water pills, certain antibiotics including amphotericin B and chloroquine at toxic levels.
• Adrenal disorders, such as primary aldosteronism and Cushing’s syndrome.
• Excessive sweating also known as hyperhidrosis.
• Eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa.
• Hypomagnesemia or low magnesium levels.
• Excessive alcohol use.
• Liddle syndrome, which is a disorder that causes increased blood pressure.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Genetic disorders, such as hypokalemic periodic paralysis, Bartter syndrome.
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