All the vital processes of the body are regulated by various trace elements. One of the most important is potassium. He is involved in many intracellular processes. The lack of this trace element leads to various health problems. If this condition is not eliminated immediately, more serious consequences are possible, up to cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is very important to learn to identify the first symptoms of potassium deficiency and know how to make up for it.
The role of potassium in the body
Potassium is one of the most abundant metals on Earth. It is part of the soil, sea water, various minerals. There is potassium in plants and animals. It is this trace element that provides the vital activity of all living organisms. In humans, potassium is located inside the cells and in the intercellular space. The work of the cell is impossible without it, so its amount is restored due to intercellular fluid. This trace element is contained in muscles, bones, in all body fluids.
Potassium refers to electrolytes. This is a positively charged ion, which not only maintains the water-electrolyte balance in the body, but also performs many other functions:
- transfers impulses along nerve fibers to muscles;
- normalizes the acid-base balance of the blood;
- maintains normal amount of glucose in the blood;
- participates in protein synthesis;
- regulates the removal of toxins through the intestines.
Causes of Potassium Lack
In the body of an adult, for normal functioning, a potassium level of 1.8 to 5 grams should be maintained. The need for this trace element increases with some pathologies, with increased body weight, large losses of fluid with sweat or urine. Potassium enters the body with food. It is highly soluble, therefore, it is absorbed almost completely. The body remains as much as necessary, the rest is excreted in the urine. Therefore, its deficiency can be observed in three cases: with large losses of fluid with which it is excreted from the body, with insufficient intake of food, and with improper absorption.
This can happen under the influence of various factors. The main reasons for the lack of potassium are considered as follows:
- malnutrition, malnutrition;
- adherence to various strict diets;
- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to insufficient assimilation of this trace element;
- thyroid disease;
- large fluid loss with increased sweating, diarrhea or vomiting;
- frequent use of diuretics, drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma, some antibiotics;
- congenital metabolic disorders.
Sometimes symptoms of potassium deficiency in men are observed with frequent stresses, increased physical or nervous stress. This can happen in athletes who do not follow the drinking regime and lose a lot of fluid. This condition can be observed with prolonged profuse diarrhea, frequent vomiting, and high blood glucose. Symptoms of a lack of potassium in women are often during pregnancy, since most of the trace elements go to the needs of the child.
Initial Stage Symptoms
First, the decrease in the intake of this microelement with food or its increased excretion is independently regulated by the body. But over time, the first symptoms of potassium deficiency begin to appear. At first, they are implicitly expressed and resemble the signs of other metabolic disorders. A person notices increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, irritability and decreased performance.
Gradually, more pronounced symptoms of a lack of potassium in the body appear. This is primarily a decrease in muscle tone and cramps. Hand tremors, muscle pain, and fatigue may appear. In some people, this slows the pulse. One of the characteristic symptoms of potassium deficiency is increased urination or polyuria. In this case, urine can be allocated up to 3 liters per day. In addition, the patient does not heal well, bruises appear even for a minor reason.
Serious Potassium Deficiency: Adult Symptoms
If measures are not taken in time to eliminate this deficit, the condition gradually worsens. This especially affects the functioning of the kidneys and digestive tract, as well as the contractility of muscles. Therefore, with a serious lack of potassium, the following symptoms are observed:
- impaired renal function;
- problems with urine outflow;
- bloating, vomiting, flatulence, intestinal obstruction is possible;
- paresis and paralysis of muscles;
- frequent cramps;
- swelling
- dizziness;
- heart rhythm disturbance, decreased heart rate;
- respiratory distress;
- frequent increase in blood pressure.
Symptoms of a lack of potassium and magnesium in the body
Often along with potassium, magnesium is also excreted from the body. Therefore, a deficiency of a single microelement is rarely found, and the level of several is usually reduced. Especially often, the symptoms of a lack of potassium in the body in women are combined with signs of a lack of magnesium. Mostly this happens during pregnancy. But with increased fluid loss, both of these trace elements are also eliminated from the body. In this case, the symptoms of pathology are more pronounced:
- there is a state of chronic fatigue, decreased performance;
- irritability, depression, sleep disorders, phobias appear;
- headaches, dizziness occur;
- frequent cramps in the muscles of the neck, calves, feet, hands;
- fluctuations in blood pressure, heart pain;
- violation of lipid metabolism;
- tendency to thrombosis;
- digestion disorder;
- hair loss, tooth decay, brittle nails.
The consequences of this condition
Such a pathology without treatment leads to serious health disorders. Particularly severe consequences are caused by a lack of potassium in the body in women. This happens during pregnancy, breastfeeding. With the lack of this microelement, serious pathologies in a child can develop, the work of many organs in a woman is disrupted.
Hypokalemia always leads to serious consequences. The body alone can not make up for the deficiency of this microelement, therefore, various pathologies develop:
- myalgia, decreased muscle tone;
- arrhythmia, decreased heart rate, in severe cases, this can lead to cardiac arrest;
- insulin production is reduced, which threatens the development of diabetes;
- acid-base balance in the body and electrolyte balance are disturbed;
- dyspnea;
- decreased immunity;
- infertility, impaired potency.
Diagnostics
If symptoms of potassium deficiency appear, you must consult a doctor and be examined. Self-medication in such cases is unacceptable, since such a condition is observed with many pathologies, and excessive intake of this trace element can be no less dangerous.
Potassium deficiency can be detected by examining other organs or during a physical examination. For example, the characteristic signs of this condition appear on the ECG. After all, this condition leads to a violation of the heart rhythm, the appearance of noise in the heart, to the development of the syndrome of the extended QU interval, as well as to hypertrophy of the left ventricle. In addition, hypokalemia can be detected by urine tests.
Correction Methods
If you find symptoms of a lack of potassium in the body, you must consult a doctor. After talking with the patient and examining, the specialist will determine the causes of this condition and develop a methodology for its correction. First of all, a special diet is recommended, which includes foods with a high content of potassium. It is necessary to eliminate the causes of hypokalemia, curing the pathology that caused it. Medications containing potassium are rarely prescribed, because an excess of it in the blood can lead to even more serious problems.
Diet
Often, symptoms of potassium deficiency in the body in men appear due to smoking, alcohol consumption and an unbalanced diet. Bad habits slow down its absorption. But in general, ordinary nutrition provides the human needs for this trace element. And to make up for the lack of potassium, you often need to include some vegetables and fruits in your diet. Especially a lot of it in such products:
- bananas
- broccoli;
- sea kale;
- potatoes;
- eggplant;
- melon;
- apricots
- Tomatoes
- avocado.
In addition, you need to eat cereals, buckwheat, barley and oat are especially useful. The source of potassium is mushrooms, dried fruits, legumes, herbs, cocoa. It is necessary to eat beef, dairy products, fish.
Medications
Such methods for correcting hypokalemia are used only under the supervision of a physician. Injection administration of drugs is indicated for obvious deficiency, proven by analyzes. After all, intravenous administration of potassium preparations can give the opposite effect. In addition, such treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. Therefore, they are most often used in tablets or capsules for symptoms of potassium deficiency. Especially popular are: Asparkam, Panangin, Potassium Orotate, Potassium Chloride. Such drugs are prescribed by a doctor, since it is important to combine them with other drugs in the presence of other pathologies.