Causes and symptoms of hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is a rather dangerous condition, which is accompanied by a significant decrease in the level of potassium in the human body. In the absence of timely medical care, such a disease can lead to various problems with the cardiovascular system, including cardiac arrest. That is why it is so important to know about what the main symptoms of hypokalemia look like. The earlier the treatment is started, the easier and faster the healing process will be.

Hypokalemia: the causes of the disease

Such a state can develop under the influence of many factors of the external environment and the general state of the organism. Therefore, before considering the main symptoms of hypokalemia, it is worthwhile to get acquainted with the information on the causes of its development. In modern medicine, it is common to distinguish three main groups:

• First of all, it should be noted that the decrease in potassium may be due to the insufficient content of this element in food. For example, this is often observed among hungry people, as well as adherents of constant strict diets.
• Often, hypokalemia is associated with increased excretion of this element from the body. This happens when there are certain kidney diseases, as well as metabolic alkalosis. To the same result can lead and uncontrolled use of diuretics.
• Sometimes the bulk of the potassium enters the cells, resulting in a decrease in blood levels. This condition is observed in people who abuse alcohol, as well as in patients with increased production of catecholamines. To the same result leads to too large amounts of folic acid and some other vitamins.

Hypokalemia: symptoms of the disease

The normal content of potassium in the blood of a person varies in the range from 3.5 to 5.5 mmol / l. If this figure falls below 3 mmol / l, the first symptoms of hypokalemia begin to appear:

• As a rule, in the early stages of development the disease manifests itself as constant fatigue, reduced efficiency and rapid fatigue. Often, there may be problems with the digestive system, in particular, nausea and vomiting. Potassium is of great importance for the normal functioning of muscle tissue, so its deficiency affects primarily them. Patients complain of weakness, and sometimes convulsions in the lower limbs.
• Then there are various mental disorders. This disease is characterized by apathy, depression, increased irritability, lethargic state.
• Numbness and sensations of tingling of the skin, limited mobility are also symptoms of hypokalemia.
• As the development of the disease affects the condition of the heart. A frequent complication is ventricular fibrillation.
• Sometimes paralysis develops. Especially dangerous is the condition for the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, since while this person is simply unable to breathe independently.

Hypokalemia and treatment methods

Treatment of the disease consists in the introduction of an additional amount of potassium compounds in the body. Nevertheless, this is only temporary help for the patient. Therefore, the main task of the doctor is to determine the cause of the disease and its elimination.