Recognize symptoms

A potassium deficiency initially manifests itself with very general signs. It can manifest itself in various ways, but often a potassium deficiency can be inferred from a combination of different aspects. Initially, a potassium deficiency manifests itself through tiredness.

Dizziness and headaches can also occur. Nausea and constipation can also occur, as potassium plays a major role in the gastrointestinal tract. These symptoms are relatively harmless, but they still affect everyday life.

Mood swings can also be caused by a potassium deficiency. More serious are symptoms such as muscle weakness, cramps or paralysis. These are caused by the fact that potassium is responsible for the transmission of signals.

Signals sent from the brain to the legs, for example, can no longer arrive unhindered and the movements can no longer be carried out ideally. In addition, too little potassium in the body can have a negative effect on the function of the kidneys and lead to a functional impairment. Since the heart is also a large muscle, the consequences of a potassium deficiency can also be felt here.

They manifest themselves in cardiac arrhythmia, as the regular pumping of the heart is closely related to potassium. Cardiac arrhythmia can be life-threatening, depending on its extent. For this reason, a potassium deficiency should be compensated for quickly when it is detected.

Diagnosis

If a potassium deficiency is suspected, a doctor should be consulted due to the possible serious effects. This doctor can reliably detect a potassium deficiency by means of a blood count and advise a suitable therapy. A potassium value in the blood below 3.6 millimol per liter (mmol/l) indicates a potassium deficiency.

Other mineral concentrations can also be determined in a blood test to provide information about the existing effects or the cause of the deficiency. Values that are representative of kidney function should also be determined to check whether the kidneys are functioning properly. In addition, the concentration of potassium in urine can be measured to determine whether too much or too little potassium is excreted.The performance of an electrocardiogram (ECG) can show how the changed potassium content affects the function of the heart and whether, if necessary, medication is needed to support the heart. Here, any irregularities in the activity of the heart can be detected (cardiac arrhythmia)