Hypopotassemia

The human body represents very complex system working due to harmonious balance and interaction of many various substances. The shortcoming or surplus even of one substance leads to emergence of a number of serious violations.

Normal concentration in a blood plasma of the person of potassium makes from 3,5 to 5,5 mmol/l. If the content of this substance decreases below the lower bound of norm, then there is morbid condition called by a hypopotassemia. At it there are serious problems in work practically of all bodies and systems of a human body.

Hypopotassemia: reasons

The main reasons leading to development of a hypopotassemia are:

• Considerable removal of potassium from an organism. It is observed at vomiting, a hyperglycemia, diarrhea, a hyper aldosteronism, a metabolic alkalosis, diseases of kidneys and reception of some diuretic medicines. Excessive losses of potassium are the main reason for a hypopotassemia.
• Insufficient receipt of this element in an organism with food stuffs. This reason of a hypopotassemia can be observed at the people adhering to very rigid diets or starving. Also the hypopotassemia quite often develops at people with tendency to a geophagia (clay eating). In this case the iron which is available in clay contacts potassium with formation of an insoluble complex. As a result of it potassium cannot be soaked up from intestines and is not acquired by an organism.
• Considerable intake of potassium from intercellular liquid in cells. Such movement of potassium can be observed at introduction of high doses of insulin, after abuse of alcoholic drinks, at surplus of catecholamines, and also at overdose of some vitamins, in particular folic acid.

Hypopotassemia: symptoms

Deficit of potassium in an organism leads to development of the general weakness, bystry fatigue. In addition muscular weakness of the lower extremities develops, in them quite often there are spasms. At decrease in potassium concentration in blood serum less than 3,0 mmol/l appear also other clinical symptoms of a hypopotassemia:

• Various neurologic frustration (paresthesias, numbness of skin, etc.);
• Frustration of mentality (apathy, irritability, lethargy);
• Disturbances of a cordial rhythm. The lack of potassium increases excitability of a myocardium that can lead to emergence of ventricular extrasystoles and even fibrillation of ventricles. The hypopotassemia is especially dangerous to the people receiving therapy by cardiac glycosides. At them even small deficit of potassium can become the reason for the sudden expressed arrhythmia leading to death.
• In hard cases the ascending paralysis proceeding with damage of intercostal muscles and diaphragms can develop. At its emergence of the patient it is necessary to transfer to hardware breath.

Other symptoms of a hypopotassemia are the expressed nausea and the vomiting arising because of dysfunctions of digestive tract. At the same time at vomiting potassium losses amplify that, in turn, otyazhelyat hypopotassemia symptoms even more. Seldom or never the expressed deficit of potassium can become the reason of development of dynamic intestinal impassability.

Hypopotassemia: treatment

At emergence in the patient of the first symptoms of a hypopotassemia it is necessary to find out the reason of development of this state and to eliminate it.

For completion of reserves of potassium in an organism use medicines which part this substance is. At insignificant expressiveness of a hypopotassemia the patient usually appoint reception of tablets of Pananginum or Asparkam. In more hard cases at a hypopotassemia resort to intravenous administration of potassium chloride, potassium citrate or potassium bicarbonate.

However, if disturbance of redistribution of potassium between cells and the intercellular environment is the reason of development of a hypopotassemia, then intravenous administration of drugs of potassium is categorically contraindicated!

Treatment of the hypopotassemia caused by the increased losses of potassium begins with treatment of the basic disease which led to emergence of this state.

Prevention of development of a hypopotassemia

To prevent emergence of deficit of potassium it is necessary to include the food stuffs rich with this chemical element in the diet:

• Dried fruits;
• Bananas;
• Potatoes (it is better baked);
• Cabbage;
• Spinach;
• Salad;
• Nuts (peanut, almonds, cedar or walnuts).

The healthy and balanced diet allows a human body to receive all substances, necessary for its normal life activity, from food that allows to avoid development of a hypopotassemia.