Potassium requirements for elderly people vary with age and medical condition. Often, age-related changes, disease conditions, diet restrictions and medications cause abnormal blood potassium levels. Potassium is necessary for all cell membranes to initiate and receive nerve impulses. For optimum health, potassium must remain between the narrow range of 3.5 to 5.0 milliequivalents per liter of blood. Alterations from this level require either potassium supplements or potassium restrictions and careful monitoring.
Daily Requirements
The body does not store or produce potassium. You obtain your daily requirement through food sources. At the time of publication, the Food and Nutrition Board with the Institute of Medicine recommended that adults over age 70 consume 4.7 grams per day of potassium. The authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing" explain that most foods contain potassium, with highest concentrations found in dairy products, organ meat, preserved meat, dried fruit, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, oranges, avocados, broccoli, dried beans or peas, potatoes and spinach.
Advanced Age and Potassium
Age causes changes that affect all body systems. The renal system controls blood potassium levels through excretion of potassium in urine. The author of "Gerontological Nursing" tells how the kidneys decrease in size, experience less blood flow and have a decline in ability to concentrate urine as people age. Less concentrated urine means more potassium is excreted in urine, placing the elderly at risk for low blood levels of potassium, a condition called hypokalemia. The elderly should periodically check serum potassium levels with a doctor to see if a potassium supplement is required.
The Elderly, Medication and Potassium
Many elderly take medications that affect the body's potassium level. Medications used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions and fluid retention may lower or elevate your blood potassium level. For example, ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure increase serum potassium, causing hyperkalemia. Furosemide, a diuretic used to remove excess fluid from the body, decreases serum potassium. As much as medications can alter your serum potassium level, your potassium level can alter the efficacy of certain drugs. Digoxin, a medication used to control heart rate and rhythm, causes toxic effects in hypokalemia. If you take any medications that can affect your potassium level, consult with your doctor to see if you require a supplement or if you should avoid foods high in potassium.
Symptoms of Potassium Imbalance
Hypokalemia, or low serum potassium, can cause muscle weakness, decreased respiratory function, heart palpitations, a slow heart rate and confusion. High potassium levels can lead to muscle spasms and twitches, nausea, numbness to the hands and feet and heart rate and rhythm disturbances. If left unchecked, potassium imbalances can be life threatening. Treatment depends on the severity of the potassium imbalance and accompanying symptoms.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Donna Ignatavicius, et al.; 2010
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)
- "Gerontological Nursing"; Patricia A. Tabloski, PhD.; 2010
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