Hypokalemia is a condition when the body lacks potassium or potassium. This condition can be experienced by anyone, especially people with diarrhea or vomiting. Treatment of hypokalemia needs to be done immediately to prevent serious complications, such as heart problems.
Potassium is a mineral in the body that controls the function of nerve and muscle cells, especially the heart muscle. Potassium also plays a role in maintaining the balance of body fluids and regulating blood pressure. When potassium levels in the body decrease, various symptoms will appear, depending on the amount of potassium lost.
Symptoms of Hypokalemia (Potassium Deficiency)
Symptoms can appear when potassium levels in the body are low, which is below 3.6 mmol/L. However, mild hypokalemia generally causes no symptoms. The initial symptoms that appear are as follows:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Appetite is gone
- Constipation
- Body feels weak
- tingling
- Muscle cramp
- Heart beat
Very low blood potassium levels, less than 2.5 mmol/L, can be fatal. This condition is classified as severe hypokalemia. Some of the symptoms of severe hypokalemia that can appear are:
- Paralytic ileus
- Paralysis
- Heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias)
- Stop breathing
Heart rhythm disturbances that appear can be too slow (bradycardia), too fast (tachycardia), or irregular, such as atrial fibrillation. This condition is more at risk for people taking the drug digoxin.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if symptoms of hypokalemia appear, especially after you have vomiting, diarrhea, taking diuretic drugs, or suffering from kidney disease. Treatment measures need to be taken immediately to prevent complications.
Check with your doctor if you have vomiting for more than 1 day or diarrhea for more than 2 days. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration and potassium deficiency, so immediate treatment is needed.
Discuss with your doctor again if you have an illness that requires you to take long-term diuretic drugs. Diuretic drugs are one of the causes of hypokalemia. Doctors can reduce the dose or change the type of diuretic medication that does not trigger hypokalemia, such as spironolactone.
If you suffer from kidney disease, do regular health checks as recommended by your doctor. The kidneys regulate and maintain normal levels of potassium in the body through the elimination of urine. When kidney function is impaired, potassium levels in the body will be impaired.
Immediately go to the emergency room if symptoms of hypokalemia are accompanied by complaints of palpitations, weakness, or paralysis. Handling needs to be done immediately because this condition can cause death.
Causes of Hypokalemia (Potassium Deficiency)
Hypokalemia occurs when the body excretes too much potassium. This condition can be caused by several factors. The most common causes of potassium deficiency are:
- Throws up
- Excessive diarrhea
- Kidney disease or disorders of the adrenal glands
- Take diuretic drugs
Although rare, potassium deficiency can also be caused by the following factors:
- Folic acid deficiency
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Low levels of magnesium in the body (hypomagnesemia)
- Taking asthma medication or antibiotics
- Long term use of laxatives
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking habit
Several syndromes can also cause low levels of potassium in the body, including Cushing's Syndrome, Gitelman's Syndrome, Liddle's Syndrome, Bartter's Syndrome, and Fanconi's Syndrome.
Diagnosis of Hypokalemia (Potassium Deficiency)
The doctor will ask about the symptoms that appear and check your medical history to find out possible diseases that can trigger vomiting or diarrhea. The doctor will also measure the patient's blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate, because hypokalemia can affect all three of these things.
To measure the level of potassium in the blood, the doctor will perform a blood test. Normal potassium levels are 3.7-5.2 mmol/L. If the potassium level is lower than this number, the doctor can diagnose that the patient has hypokalemia. In addition to blood tests, urine tests are also done to measure the amount of potassium that is wasted with urine.
If the patient has a history of heart disease, the doctor will perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect heart rate disturbances caused by low potassium levels in the body.
Treatment of Hypokalemia (Potassium Deficiency)
Treatment steps for hypokalemia depend on low potassium levels, the underlying cause, and the patient's ability to take fluids or medications. If the condition is serious enough, the patient must be hospitalized until the potassium level in the body returns to normal.
The following are the stages of treating hypokalemia:
Treating the cause of hypokalemia
After the cause of potassium deficiency is known for certain, the doctor will treat the cause. For example, doctors can give antidiarrheal drugs, such as: loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate, if the cause of hypokalemia is diarrhea.
Restore potassium levels
Mild hypokalemia can be treated by taking potassium supplements. However, in severe hypokalemia, potassium intake needs to be given by infusion of potassium chloride. The infusion dose is adjusted to the level of potassium in the blood and is given slowly to prevent the risk of heart problems. If it has caused the number of other types of electrolytes to be problematic, this condition also needs to be treated.
Monitor potassium levels
During treatment in the hospital, the doctor will monitor the patient's potassium level through blood tests or urine tests. This action is taken to prevent an excessive increase in potassium levels (hyperkalemia), because high potassium levels can also cause serious complications.
To maintain normal potassium levels, patients are advised to eat foods that are high in potassium, such as beans, spinach, salmon, and carrots. Doctors will also prescribe magnesium supplements, because magnesium levels in the body can decrease as potassium is lost.
Complications of Hypokalemia (Potassium Deficiency)
Early detection and treatment of hypokalemia needs to be done to prevent complications. One of the most dangerous complications is arrhythmia. This complication is at risk for hypokalemic patients who also suffer from heart problems.
In addition, potassium deficiency is also at risk of causing other complications if not treated properly. These complications include:
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Paralytic ileus
- Brain disorders in patients with cirrhosis (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Kidney illness
- Respiratory muscle paralysis
Prevention of Hypokalemia (Potassium Deficiency)
The steps to prevent hypokalemia depend on the underlying cause. If potassium deficiency is caused by diarrhea, prevention can be done by diligently washing hands, consuming drinks and foods that have been cooked until cooked, and drinking more water.
If potassium deficiency is caused by constant vomiting, prevention is to consume sugary drinks or fruit juices, eat small but regular meals, and don't lie down immediately after eating.
Take diuretics as directed by your doctor. This type of drug will make the user urinate more often, so that potassium can be wasted with urine. Make regular checks with your doctor while using diuretic drugs.
Potassium deficiency can also be avoided by eating foods high in potassium, so that potassium levels in the blood are maintained. Some types of foods that are high in potassium are:
- Fruits, such as bananas, oranges, and avocados.
- Vegetables, such as tomatoes, spinach, and carrots.
- Beef.
- Fish
- Nuts.
- Wheat
- Milk
However, consult a nutritionist again to prevent the risk of hyperkalemia, especially if you are taking potassium supplements or have kidney disease.