As the name breits itself suggests, in potassium deficiency there is a lack of potassium in the human body. Potassium is a mineral and belongs to the electrolytes in the body, which are involved in maintaining the osmotic pressure in the corresponding body cells, and thus also in the regulation of water balance. Thus, the potassium value is often also determined during routine blood tests. Here, the potassium concentration in the blood should be between 3.5 and 5.0 mmol/l.
What is potassium deficiency?
A blood test of potassium levels is used by doctors to further diagnose various diseases. In addition, potassium also plays an important role in the activation of enzymes, such as proteins and in carbohydrate metabolism, which in turn is important for energy production. Likewise, potassium, together with calcium and sodium, affects heart muscle activity and is responsible for the excitability of nerve and muscle cells. Potassium is also important for the regulation of blood pressure. Thus, the potassium content in the body is closely related to the sodium content, because the more sodium is consumed, the more potassium the body can excrete. Since potassium is contained in numerous foods, most people’s potassium requirements are easily covered by their daily diet. However, there may be an additional need for potassium due to various conditions.
Causes
For example, potassium deficiency can occur with malnutrition or nutritional deficiency. Likewise, people with cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, have a slightly higher need for potassium. People who consume a lot of salt also have an increased need for potassium. Potassium deficiency, or hypokalemia, occurs when the concentration of potassium in the blood is lower than 3.5 mmol/l. This can be caused by a number of factors. The causes of hypokalemia can be prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, misuse of laxatives, inflammatory bowel disease, alcohol abuse, or excessive salt consumption. Due to infusions, such as a blood transfusion, excess potassium, known as hyperkalemia, can also occur. Furthermore, an excess of potassium can occur when potassium is increasingly released from the corresponding body cells. This can be the case, for example, with infections. In addition, excess potassium can also occur in the blood as a result of kidney disease or dehydrating drugs. In this case, an excess is defined by a value above 5.5 mmol/l in the blood.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Potassium is primarily responsible for energy metabolism and the functioning of the heart and nerves. For this reason, a deficiency of this mineral is particularly noticeable in these areas. These are often unspecific symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, but also nervousness, which do not explicitly indicate a potassium deficiency. Sometimes sluggish bowels, dry skin and wound healing disorders are also symptoms that may indicate low potassium levels. Since these symptoms are very non-specific, i.e. they can indicate many things, potassium deficiency is often only detected as an incidental finding during a blood test. Clear potassium deficiency becomes apparent when the level has dropped to about 3 mmol/liter. Here, the importance of potassium for the heart and nerves becomes clear. Symptoms typical of potassium deficiency are palpitations and cardiac arrhythmias such as extrasystoles. Muscle cramps are also common. In addition, the formation of edema, water retention in the tissues, may occur. In severe cases, hypokalemia can lead to paralysis of muscles via pronounced weakness. Potassium deficiency also affects consciousness first by clouding, then sometimes even loss of consciousness. In the worst cases, coma is at the end of the serious physical and mental impairments that potassium deficiency can cause.
Course
With some exceptions, the symptoms of potassium excess resemble the symptoms of potassium deficiency. However, my excess potassium does not cause constipation, but rather diarrhea. At the same time, potassium deficiency can cause some disturbances in the body, such as muscle weakness, fatigue, headaches and dizziness, nausea, cramps, circulatory problems, mood swings and cardiac arrhythmias. In rare cases, potassium poisoning may also occur.In the case of poisoning, this can lead to a reduced heart rate and even cardiac arrest, confusion and muscle weakness. Speech and swallowing disorders may also occur. As a rule, potassium poisoning is followed by gastric lavage with a physiological saline solution. Appropriate infusions with sodium bicarbonate may also be used. In life-threatening cases, blood washing may even be performed. Monitoring of the cardiovascular system as well as the blood is especially important in cases of poisoning.
Complications
Potassium serves as an electrolyte in the human body. Accordingly, potassium deficiency is an electrolyte disorder. In such a disorder, complications affecting the heart are possible. Abnormalities in the electrocardiogram (ECG) serve as indicators of the pathological change in activity. Hypokalemia can induce cardiac arrhythmias, which can vary in severity. The arrhythmia may be preceded by tachycardia. This is an acceleration of the heart rate. However, tachycardia is not always followed by arrhythmia. Ventricular fibrillation is also a possible complication. In this case, the heart is no longer able to pump blood into the arteries as usual. Ventricular fibrillation is life-threatening because the lack of blood supply causes a lack of oxygen in the body. The lack of oxygen to the brain causes unconsciousness. If the affected person survives, but the lack of oxygen lasts too long, permanent damage is possible. Potassium deficiency also causes neurological symptoms that can manifest themselves in very unspecific ways: Tingling sensations and quantitative disturbances of consciousness up to coma are examples. The electrolyte disturbance can be accompanied by water retention. Such edema causes the tissue to swell and is usually visible externally. Water retention in the legs causes the calves to become firm. Edema can cause pain due to pressure and restrict movement. As a further complication, muscles may cramp and/or weaken.
When should you see a doctor?
People who suffer from fatigue, tiredness, or impaired concentration for an extended period of time should see a doctor for a checkup. In case of dryness of the skin, skin blemishes and acne, as well as dandruff, a visit to the doctor is recommended to clarify the cause. Signs such as loss of appetite, increased inner restlessness and nervousness should be examined and treated. If there are abnormalities in bowel activity, dizziness or headaches, a visit to the doctor is necessary. Irregularities in urination are considered unusual. An increased amount of urine or problems with going to the toilet should therefore be checked by a doctor. Flatulence and constipation are also indications that need to be examined by a doctor. Wound healing problems are of particular concern. Since pathogens can enter the body through open wounds, there is an increased risk of blood poisoning. This, like a severe potassium deficiency, can lead to a fatal course of the disease. A visit to the doctor should therefore already take place at the first discrepancies. If paralysis, cramps or disturbances of the musculature occur, a doctor should be consulted. If there is a decrease in the physical performance level, a visit to the doctor is necessary as soon as a continuous development occurs. If disturbances of consciousness or a loss of consciousness occur, the affected person needs medical care as soon as possible. In severe cases, an ambulance service should be alerted and first aid measures initiated.
Treatment and therapy
How a potassium deficiency is treated depends mainly on the cause of the deficiency. For example, a mild potassium deficiency can be quickly corrected by a potassium-rich diet. In this context, dietary supplements in the form of capsules or effervescent tablets are only recommended to a limited extent, as there is a risk that the potassium intake will be too high, resulting in a potassium surplus. Potassium supplements should therefore only be taken after consultation with a doctor or pharmacist. A low dosage is usually advisable. Potassium-containing drugs are only used if, for example, a potassium deficiency is to be prevented in the case of hyperacidity of the blood. Such hyperacidity can occur in diabetes mellitus, for example. This is then called ketoacidosis and is the result of increased fat breakdown.Similarly, kidney stones are also treated with potassium-containing drugs.
Outlook and prognosis
If potassium deficiency is caused by a faulty diet, the prognosis is favorable. By changing food intake and following a balanced diet plan, the potassium deficiency is corrected. There is a permanent relief of symptoms once the optimized diet plan is used in the long term. In the event of a relapse into malnutrition or nutritional deficiency, the symptoms will recur. If there is an addictive disease, for example due to heavy alcohol consumption, the underlying disease must be cured before the potassium deficiency can be alleviated. Cure of the underlying disease is also necessary if there is an infection. The prognosis becomes less favorable if there is an organic cause. In the case of kidney disease or heart disease, long-term therapy is usually necessary to achieve relief from symptoms. In addition, in many cases there is a life-threatening situation due to the organic disorder present. There may be a need for organ transplantation. This is associated with numerous complications and adversities. If the transplantation is successful, there is a chance of curing the potassium deficiency. Nevertheless, the overall situation must be considered and assessed to make a prognosis. Excessive consumption of salt can also cause potassium deficiency. The affected person should check in what form and to what extent it as absorbed and make a correction.
Prevention
Especially older people should make sure that they drink enough every day if they have a potassium deficiency, because in old age the feeling of thirst often decreases. Here there is a risk of dehydration and thus a disturbance of the water and electrolyte balance can follow. In this case, the potassium and sodium balance gets confused. For this reason, 1.5 to 2 liters of fluid are recommended daily in the form of mineral water, juice spritzers, fruit and herbal teas. Foods that contain a lot of potassium are mainly plant foods, such as cereals and vegetables, fruits and nuts. Fish and meat can also provide potassium, but not to the same extent as plant foods. If vegetables are cooked in water for a longer time, the potassium automatically passes into the liquid. If this liquid is then not used but poured off, the potassium is also automatically lost. So if the potassium content should be reduced for health reasons, this knowledge can be put to good use. For example, in kidney disease, where the mineral balance is disturbed, when preparing food, the vegetables or potatoes are watered for a very long time, so that the potassium can escape.
Aftercare
Aftercare for potassium deficiency is primarily to make up for the deficiency and prevent recurrence through targeted nutrition. Therefore, basic knowledge about potassium should be obtained. It is advisable to identify foods that are rich in potassium in order to integrate them firmly into the diet. These are – among others – dried fruits, tomatoes, mushrooms, legumes, artichokes, nuts, cocoa and chocolate. In some cases, potassium therapy with tablets is indicated. In these cases, follow-up should consist of taking this medication regularly and as recommended. Regular blood tests are also part of the aftercare for potassium deficiency. This is a preventive measure to counteract a renewed deficiency and to ensure that the deficiency has actually been corrected. Since potassium deficiency can cause cardiac arrhythmias, a cardiological examination should also be part of a careful follow-up. Lastly, it can be helpful to alert people in the environment to previous hypokalemia so that special attention can be paid to it in an emergency. In addition, initial warning signs and indications of impending hypokalemia should be identified so that prompt action can be taken when they occur. For example, these may include symptoms such as arrhythmias, constipation, fatigue, and frequent urination.
Here’s what you can do yourself
A potassium deficiency does not always need to be treated medically. Most of the time, the deficit can be made up by temporarily changing your diet. Foods high in potassium include legumes, cocoa, kale, nuts, potatoes and fruit juice.In the event of a severe deficiency, supplementary preparations from specialist stores or pharmacies can also be taken in consultation with the doctor. In addition, plenty of mineral water or unsweetened tea should be drunk. Accompanying this, it is recommended to strengthen the circulation through regular exercise in the fresh air. The most important measure: identify and eliminate the cause of the potassium deficiency. Often, for example, a certain medication is responsible for the deficit. Serious illnesses are also possible triggers. It is advisable to keep a diary of complaints and to record details of the symptoms in it. This will also make it easier for the doctor to examine the patient later. If the symptoms persist despite all measures, a visit to the doctor is recommended. Patients with kidney or heart disease should talk to their doctor immediately if they have a potassium deficiency. This is especially true if other symptoms are added or if the potassium deficiency noticeably affects well-being.
