If hypokalemia has an acute character and pronounced symptoms, then it is necessary drug treatment. In this case, drugs are prescribed for treatment with great content potassium. But, when taking medications, you should be careful with the dosage. With a low severity of the disease and excessive intake of potassium-containing drugs, hypokalemia can develop into hyperkalemia. This must be avoided so that later it is not treated for another disease.

It is important to note that hyperkalemia is often treated with medication, and the goal of treatment is not only to reduce the concentration of potassium, but also to work with the source of the pathology. Since hyperkalemia in some cases can damage internal organs and body systems, then effective way therapy is only blood filtration.

The effectiveness of treatment is monitored using an ECG. With a positive dynamics of therapy, the amount of potassium consumed should be made lower.

Lack of potassium in the body (hypokalemia) is a diagnosis that doctors often make today. This problem is diagnosed even in those people who consider themselves quite healthy, especially those who wage an uncompromising fight against extra pounds by fasting, using diuretics, including “teas for weight loss” that have been common in recent years. But electrolyte disturbances, which include hypokalemia, are provoked not only by these reasons. Why does such a problem arise, what are the symptoms of hypokalemia and methods of correction?

Potassium Concentration Rates

Potassium is a very important substance involved in many biochemical processes in the human body. It plays an important role in intracellular processes, supporting the functioning of the whole organism as a whole. The main part of potassium is contained in the cells, in the intercellular substance it contains about 2 percent of the total volume in the body.

The content of potassium in the body is measured by its level in the blood, in mmol / liter. According to recent medical studies, the norm of the concentration of a substance in the blood plasma of adults should be in the range from 3.5 to 5.4 mmol / l. If the indicator is lowered and does not reach the minimum acceptable level, then this indicates the development of hypokalemia in the patient. This, in turn, causes a whole range of severe functional disorders body, especially the heart. No less harmful and too high a level.

For children, the norm is somewhat different:

• infants in the first month of life are allowed to have potassium in the blood in a volume of 3.6 to 6 mmol / liter;
• babies from a month to a year - 3.7-5.7 mmol / liter;
• in the range of 1-16 years, the norm is 3.2-5.4 mmol / liter;
• norms for potassium in whole red blood (not only in plasma) range from 79.4 to 112.6 mmol / liter.

In the process of metabolism, the excretion of potassium is carried out mainly through the kidneys, therefore, the diagnosis of the level of the substance is carried out, among other things, by urinalysis. In an adult in good health per day, the kidneys metabolize and excrete up to 4 grams of potassium per day, in children, depending on age, from 0.2 to 3.55 grams. As the child grows, the norm increases, reaching, in the end, the indicators of adults.

Why does potassium level drop?

The lack of potassium ions is caused by a number of circumstances leading to a drop in the content of potassium in cells and disruption of various processes in the human body.

The following are the main causes of hypokalemia:

1. Bad nutrition. The main source of potassium entering the body is food, and if it contains little or no substance, this will predictably lead to a potassium deficiency. An alternative cause may be reduced, due to any pathology, appetite. At first, the body manages to maintain balance by automatically reducing the excretion of potassium through the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract, but over time, the reserves of the substance in the body are depleted, and symptoms of potassium deficiency develop.
2. Some conditions require an increased intake of potassium in the body. These include, for example, periods after childbirth or rehabilitation after surgery, as well as the period of bearing a child - all these conditions are among the causes of hypokalemia.
3. Another cause of hypokalemia is nutritional deviations, the so-called geophagia, or eating clay. Such food deviation occurs, for example, in pregnant women, and quite often in young children, as well as in some tribes of African aborigines. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, the clay binds the ions of the substance, blocking their metabolism, the level of potassium in the body drops.
4. Some endocrine dysfunctions lead to increased potassium excretion and may lower its content. These include, for example, Conn's, Itsenko-Cushing's syndromes, and others. Treatment of endocrine disorders with hormonal medications can also provoke increased potassium excretion.
5. Thyrotoxicosis (thyroid disease).
6. Pathologies of the excretory system, in which potassium metabolism is disturbed. They are often accompanied, for example, by diabetes mellitus, and a number of other diseases.
7. Potassium is excreted not only in urine and stool, but also through sweat. If a person sweats a lot in the process physical activity and other circumstances accompanied by heavy sweating, this also contributes to a drop in its concentration in the body.
8. A low level of potassium can be caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, because the substance is also excreted through the intestines. This may be diarrhea of ​​various origins, polyps, prolonged vomiting, neoplasms of the pancreas, fistulas in the intestines or stomach walls. Contributes to the loss of potassium and the use of laxatives.
9. Hypokalemia may be congenital. A genetic pathology is known, leading to the fact that the level of potassium in the blood, as well as cells, periodically drops. It is manifested by muscle weakness with a low concentration of potassium.
10. Various electrolyte imbalances in the body.
11. The use of various medications, adrenaline, testosterone, the introduction of insulin and other means that provoke the acceleration of the withdrawal of the substance. This also includes the intake of diuretics, and the introduction into the body of a significant amount medicinal solutions that do not contain potassium.
12. Uncontrolled and improper use of diuretics, leading to a sharp loss of potassium.

Symptoms of potassium deficiency

Signs of hypokalemia have several gradations and depend on the degree of drop in the content of potassium ions.

The first symptoms of deficiency manifest themselves when the concentration decreases to a level of less than 3.5 mmol / liter in plasma, and resemble those of general electrolyte imbalances:

• poor ability to work, persistent constant desire to lie down, fatigue;
• weakness and myalgia, cramps in the calves of the legs, tremor of the hands;
• slow heartbeat;
• increased urine output by the kidneys, which can reach the stage of polyuria (loss of more than 3 liters of fluid per day).

As hypokalemia progresses, the symptoms increase, the consequences of a lack of potassium become more severe:

• the manifestation of functional disorders of the kidneys begins;
• polyuria is replaced by a complete cessation of urine excretion;
• gastrointestinal disorders begin: flatulence and bloating, loss of appetite, vomiting, impaired intestinal motility, leading to its obstruction);
• muscle paralysis;
• breathing problems (wheezing, shortness of breath);
• a decrease in the frequency of heart contractions against the background of an increase in the size of the organ, noises and heart rhythm failures. The electrocardiogram shows pathological changes;
• increase in blood pressure;
• hormonal dysfunctions.

Possible consequences

Due to this, even with a slight lack of potassium in the body, the symptoms can be very serious:

• myalgia (pain in the muscles - they occur due to a fallen, against the background of hypokalemia, muscle tone.), cardiac arrhythmia and adynamia;
• the risk of developing diabetes, as a result of an increased load on the insulin synthesis mechanism;
• a lack of potassium affects the functioning of the kidneys, which can lead to glycoside poisoning in patients taking digitalis-based heart preparations. The metabolic products of these drugs contain glycosides, the output of which is blocked by renal failure;
• general disorders of acid-base balance;
• from the previous paragraph, a sudden cessation of cardiac activity may develop, due to far-reaching acid-base imbalance and related changes in the heart muscle. This phenomenon is called “sudden coronary death” by physicians.

Hypokalemia is accompanied by another phenomenon - hypomagnesemia, that is, magnesium deficiency. This is due to the fact that drugs from the spectrum of diuretics are washed out of the body, in addition to potassium, and other trace elements, including magnesium. And the metabolism of potassium and magnesium is closely related.

How to treat

To begin therapy for potassium deficiency, it is necessary, first of all, to determine the cause of the phenomenon.

Usually, when starting treatment for hypokalemia, doctors immediately prescribe a special diet that includes potassium-rich foods:

• red meat;
• bananas;
• potato;
• mushrooms;
• various cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, millet);
• legumes (peas, beans), as well as eggplant;
• various types of cabbage, including sea cabbage;
• vegetables - carrots, radishes and beets;
• potassium-rich watermelons and melons, pumpkin;
• greens (spinach, parsley, different types lettuce);
• nuts;
• dried fruits;
• fruits such as apples, avocados, apricots and peaches;
• tea, cocoa drinks and coffee.

By compiling a menu from this list, it is quite easy to increase the concentration of potassium.

In addition to the diet, with hypokalemia, treatment is carried out with medications containing potassium that is easily accessible for absorption.

Such, for example, is potassium chloride, which is administered intravenously in the form of a solution of a substance in glucose. But such a solution should be used with care - in some cases, the effect of the so-called rebound hypokalemia is possible, associated with the presence of glucose in the solution, which can cause an even more severe lack of potassium. Therefore, the treatment of hypokalemia using intravenous agents should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician.

Oral potassium-containing medicines are safer. Today, there is a fairly large number of such products on the market: Panangin, Potassium Orotate and others that can increase the concentration of potassium. Doctors may prescribe them to patients to stabilize the level of potassium ions in the body, especially while taking diuretics.

Very varied. It contains many substances that are responsible for carrying out certain processes in the body. It is very important to maintain a constant ionic composition of the blood. After all, only in this state can cellular reactions proceed correctly. A special role among the ions belongs to potassium. The trace element ensures the normal functioning of the heart. It is involved in biochemical processes in the brain and certain organs of the digestive tract. All of these systems can fail if there is elevated potassium in the blood. The reasons for this condition require detailed study.

The role of potassium in the body

This trace element contained in the cells is responsible for many processes occurring in the body. He makes adjustments water balance, normalizes heartbeat. In addition, potassium affects the functioning of most cells, especially muscle and nerve cells.

This microelement stimulates mental clarity, helps the body get rid of toxins and toxins, improves brain oxygenation. The effect of potassium is similar to that of immunomodulators. The trace element effectively helps fight allergies and helps to lower pressure.

Thus, the role of potassium for the body is as follows:

1. Regulation of acid-base balance in the blood, water balance of cellular and intercellular fluid, water-salt balance,
2. Transmission of nerve impulses.
3. Activation of certain enzymes, carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
4. Ensuring a normal heart rhythm.
5. Protein synthesis, conversion of glucose into glycogen.
6. Ensuring the normalization of the kidneys (excretory function).
7. Improvement of bowel activity.
8. Normal pressure support.

Given all this, it is very important to understand what are hidden, if elevated potassium in the blood is diagnosed, the causes of this phenomenon. But before understanding the sources of pathology, one more important issue should be touched upon.

Why is the level dangerous?

• intake of potassium with food;
• its distribution in the body;
• micronutrient output.

IN human body no “depot” is provided for potassium. Therefore, any deviation from the required level can provoke a variety of violations. Let's figure out why potassium in the blood is increased or decreased, and what is its norm.

Initially, consider what trace element content is considered acceptable.

For a person, both a deficiency and an excess of potassium are dangerous. Increased potassium in the blood, if the analysis shows the content of the microelement in the plasma, exceeding 5.5. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with hyperkalemia.

Depending on the amount of "excess" potassium, the patient may develop:

1. Paralysis of muscle tissues. The condition may be temporary. It is accompanied by general weakness.
2. Heart rhythm disorders. The patient may develop ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia and other equally unpleasant conditions. Some of them can even lead to death.
3. Violation of the respiratory function, up to a stop.

False reasons for the increase

So, why can there be increased potassium in the blood? The reasons for this state are either true or false. We will talk about the former later. Now consider what factors can show false hyperkalemia. All of them are associated with impaired blood sampling technique.

Analysis can show increased content potassium if:

• the shoulder was compressed with a tourniquet for a long time (more than 2-3 minutes);
• biological material was stored incorrectly;
• blood sampling occurred after the introduction of potassium preparations into the body;
• during the analysis, a vein was injured;
• the patient has elevated level leukocytes, platelets.

If the doctor doubts the results of the study, the patient is recommended to take a second analysis.

Main reasons

Now let's move on to the true sources, in which there is an increased level of potassium in the blood. The reasons may lie in the influence external factors or be the result of internal pathologies.

Often sources of hyperkalemia are:

1. Excessive abuse of foods containing a large amount of potassium. Foods such as nuts cauliflower, dried fruits, mushrooms, molasses, bananas, increases the trace element in blood plasma. However, a pathological condition can develop only if the patient has a violation of the kidneys, in particular the excretory function.
2. Significant excretion of potassium from the cells. Such a redistribution of ions can be dictated by various disorders in the body. Most often, such symptoms manifest themselves with a low content of insulin, an increased concentration of glucose, acidosis (acidification of the interstitial fluid). Failure of metabolic processes, in which potassium increases in the interstitial fluid, can be observed during the decay of tumor formations, extensive burns, massive damage to muscle fibers.
3. Low urinary excretion. The main reason for this condition is the pathology of the kidneys, in which an insufficiency of the excretory function is diagnosed. An unpleasant phenomenon can be dictated by some other diseases. Often, hyperkalemia occurs against the background of insufficiency of the adrenal cortex, systemic ailments (such as lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis).

Medical causes

There is another source, as a result of which doctors say that potassium in the blood is elevated. The causes of this condition may be hidden in the use of certain medications. You should be aware that some drugs often lead to quite unpleasant symptoms.

Hyperkalemia can be caused by:

1. NSAIDs.
2. Potassium-sparing diuretics: Triamteren, Spironoloctone.
3. Substances that have high concentration cations. These are diverse herbal preparations from nettle, milkweed, dandelions.
4. Medicines that can interfere with the transport of potassium across the cell membrane. Such drugs are beta-blockers, the drug "Mannitol".
5. Drugs that reduce the secretion of aldosterone. This antifungal medicines, ACE blockers, the drug "Heparin".

Characteristic symptoms

Only a doctor can correctly determine the causes of high potassium. But the patient himself must pay attention to the clues that the body signals about the problem.

With hyperkalemia, the patient has the following symptoms:

• hyperactivity, irritability, excitability, anxiety, profuse sweating;
• degenerative musculo-nervous disorders, muscle weakness is manifested;
• arrhythmia occurs;
• there is paralysis of muscle tissue;
• the work of the intestine is disturbed, the patient is tormented by colic;
• there is a disorder of urination (we are talking about an increase in the process).

Diagnostic methods

It is possible to detect an increased content of potassium in the blood only with the help of laboratory tests.

To make a diagnosis, patients are prescribed the following tests:

1. Donating blood. The norm is the content of 3.5-5.5 mmol / l in the presence of pathology, the content of the cation is increased.
2. Analysis of urine. Allows you to diagnose the concentration of potassium excreted from the body.
3. ECG. Pathology is indicated by an increased amplitude of the T wave, an elongated ventricular complex.

Treatment of pathology

Remember, this is a fairly serious condition if the patient has elevated potassium in the blood. The causes and treatment of the disease can only be adequately interpreted by a specialist.

In addition, a severe course of hyperkalemia can lead, as mentioned above, to conditions that are dangerous for a person: respiratory or cardiac arrest. That is why treatment begins as soon as the patient is diagnosed.

The therapy includes the following activities:

1. Intravenous administration of potassium antagonists. Strictly controlling cardiac activity, the doctor prescribes Calcium Gluconate.
2. Redistribution of the cation into cells. As a result, its concentration in the blood decreases. For such purposes, drugs are administered intravenously: "Insulin" and "Glucose".
3. Ensuring the normal excretion of potassium from the body with urine. Thiazide diuretics such as the drug Furosemide are recommended.
4. Dialysis. With the help of a special apparatus, they purify the blood. Such an event is scheduled for severe course ailment.
5. Laxatives, ion exchange resins. These funds are aimed at retaining the cation in the intestine and removing it with feces.
6. Beta mimetics. The drug "Salbutamol" stimulates the movement of potassium cells inside.

However, remember: it is important to establish the true, if elevated potassium in the blood is diagnosed, the causes of this condition. After all, it is necessary to deal with the underlying disease, and not with its symptoms. If the disease is provoked by taking medications, then the doctor will reduce the dosage or completely cancel the drug that provoked the pathology. In addition, patients are advised diet food, implying the exclusion of food containing a high concentration of the cation.