Blood value reduction | Potassium

Blood value reduction

A decrease in plasma or serum potassium concentrations below 3.5 mmol/l is medically called hypokalemia. Usually, potassium concentrations of less than 2.5 mmol/l cause symptoms. Symptoms are particularly common when the potassium level drops particularly rapidly.

If the potassium level is below 3.0 mmol/l, a cardiac arrhythmia sets in. If the potassium level falls slowly, the body can adapt to the new potassium levels. Causes for hypokalemia can be:

  • Diarrhea (loss of potassium via the intestines)
  • Vomiting
  • Taking laxatives (loss of potassium via the intestines)
  • Diabetes mellitus (diabetes), in the context of the disease, a metabolic derailment can occur (ketoacidosis). To restore the acid-base balance, the kidney excretes more potassium.
  • Stress (Stress causes the release of adrenaline. Adrenaline causes potassium to be absorbed into the cells)
  • Drugs such as antibiotics (for example penicillin)
  • Leukemia (the increased white blood cells (leukocytes) take up potassium)

Potassium rich food

Foods containing potassium are primarily vegetable foods: meat and fish also contain potassium, but not to the same extent as the vegetable foods mentioned above. Note: If the vegetables are cooked or stored in water for a longer period of time, the potassium escapes into the water and is lost. This effect can be used when the potassium level is elevated.

  • Cereals, vegetables (potatoes, salad, parsley, spinach…)
  • Fruits (bananas, apricots, figs, honeydew melons, kiwis, berries, peaches, grapes…)
  • Nuts

Potassium deficiency

In adults, potassium deficiency occurs when the potassium concentration in blood serum is less than 3.5 mmol/l. The physician then speaks of “hypokalemia“. But how does a potassium deficiency occur?

Normally, our body can obtain sufficient quantities of this important mineral from food. Various causes, however, lead to an increased potassium loss of our body. Both through the gastrointestinal tract and the kidneys, sometimes dangerous potassium losses are possible.

The most frequent causes are chronic vomiting, chronic diarrhoea and the misuse of laxatives. Via the kidney, a potassium deficiency can be caused by certain “water tablets” (diuretics), for example. But insulin, as administered to diabetics, can also promote mineral loss.

If the deficiency is more pronounced, cardiac arrhythmia, such as ventricular or supraventricular extrasystoles, can be observed. In these cases, the heart beats “out of line”, so to speak – often unpleasantly noticeable for those affected. Potassium deficiency also causes constipation.

In the long term, the ability of our kidneys to concentrate the urine is reduced. Thus, if the lack of potassium persists, permanent kidney damage can be the result. Primarily, the doctor diagnoses potassium deficiency with a blood test.

To determine possible effects on the heart, an ECG can be written. To find the cause, a detailed interview (anamnesis) is necessary. Primarily, the cause of the potassium deficiency should always be eliminated.

Often an additional administration of the mineral is necessary to achieve rapid symptom relief. In many cases, potassium effervescent tablets, fruit juices and bananas are sufficient to normalize the potassium level. Thus 100 g of banana contains about 358 mg potassium! Because of the possible danger of cardiac arrhythmia if the level rises too quickly, the decision to administer potassium intravenously is rather cautious.