Potassium controls muscle contractions, helps regulate the acid-base balance of the body, builds muscle, regulates the transmission of nerve impulses and assists with protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Potassium deficiency, also known as hypokalemia, disrupts these normal functions and may cause serious consequences. Proper treatment restores potassium levels to normal and prevents complications.
Identification
Doctors use the basic metabolic panel to identify low levels of potassium and other electrolytes in the blood. This test panel checks the levels of potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and sodium in the blood. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that a normal potassium level usually ranges from 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L (milliequivalent per liter). A 12-lead EKG may also reveal heart abnormalities caused by low levels of potassium. During this test, an EKG machine records your heart rate, the rhythm of the heart and the timing of electrical signals as they pass through the heart.
Causes
Medical causes of potassium deficiency include eating disorders, diarrhea, laxative abuse, chronic kidney failure, vomiting and elevated levels of aldosterone in the blood. Certain diuretics increase the excretion of sodium and fluids from the body, but they also flush potassium out of the body. Regular use of these drugs may lead to low levels of potassium in the blood. Insufficient dietary intake of potassium also causes potassium deficiency, but this cause is rare among people in developed countries.
Symptoms
Mild decreases in potassium level usually cause no symptoms. As potassium deficiency becomes more severe, symptoms include constipation, muscle twitching, fast heartbeat, abnormal heart rhythm, frequent urination, fatigue, muscle weakness and paralysis.
Treatment
Increasing the amount of potassium in the diet and taking potassium supplements resolves mild to moderate cases of hypokalemia. Severe cases of hypokalemia require more significant treatment. Intravenous potassium delivery increases potassium levels in the blood and improves the symptoms of potassium deficiency. If potassium loss continues due to chronic kidney disease or other medical conditions, regular potassium supplementation will prevent complications.
Prevention
Patients who take diuretics require regular monitoring to prevent severe potassium deficiency. The "Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals" indicates that people with diabetes, those who take digoxin and people with decreased function of the left ventricle also require regular monitoring due to increased risk for hypokalemia. Eating adequate amounts of potassium also helps to prevent potassium deficiency in humans. The recommended daily intake of potassium is 4.7g, according to Colorado State University. Potassium-rich foods include tomatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, cantaloupe, potatoes, chocolate, oranges, milk, cheeses, trail mix, lima beans, soybeans, plums, papayas and chestnuts.
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