Hypokalemia

DEFINITIONS

Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) is a condition where the concentration of potassium in the blood is less than 3.8 mEq / L blood.

CAUSE

Normal kidneys can withstand potassium well.
If the concentration is too low blood potassium, usually caused by the kidneys that do not function normally or too much potassium is lost through the digestive tract (due to diarrhea, vomiting, using laxatives for a long time or colon polyps).
Hypokalemia is rarely caused by a lack of intake because potassium is found in everyday foods.

Potassium can be lost through the urine for several reasons.
The most common is the result of the use of certain diuretic drugs that cause the kidneys remove sodium, water and potassium in excessive amounts.

In Cushing syndrome, adrenal glands produce a large number of hormones including aldosterone kostikosteroid.
Aldosterone is the hormone that causes the kidneys remove large amounts of potassium.

Kidneys also release potassium in significant amounts in people who consume large amounts of cinnamon or some chewing tobacco.
Patients with Liddle's syndrome, Bartter's syndrome and Fanconi's syndrome are born with congenital kidney disease in which renal mechanisms to hold potassium disturbed.

Certain medications such as insulin and asthma medications (albuterol, and theophylline terbutalin), increasing the displacement of potassium into the cell and cause hypokalemia.
But the use of these drugs is rarely the sole cause of hypokalemia.

SYMPTOMS

Mild hypokalemia usually do not cause symptoms at all.

More severe hypokalemia (less than 3 mEq / L blood) can cause muscle weakness, muscle spasms and even paralysis.

Heart rhythm becomes abnormal, especially in people with heart disease.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis based on results of blood tests and symptoms.

TREATMENT

Potassium is usually can be easily replaced with a lot of foods containing potassium, or by consuming potassium salt (potassium chloride) by mouth.
Potassium can irritate the digestive tract, which is given in small doses, several times a day.

Most of the people taking diuretics do not require additional potassium.
But it can be periodically re-examination of the blood potassium concentration of the drug so that preparations can be changed if necessary.

In severe hypokalemia, potassium can be given intravenously.
This is done with great care and usually only performed in hospital, to avoid an increase in potassium levels are too high.