“This is a symptom of potassium deficiency and requires oral potassium chloride treatment.” Uncle Wang, who was lying on the hospital bed, never thought that he was admitted to the hospital because of the weakness of the heart muscle caused by “potassium deficiency”.
Uncle Wang has been suffering from high blood pressure for more than ten years. He has been insisting on using hydrochlorothiazide to control blood pressure, and the effect is not bad. But in March of this year, he found that he had generalized muscle weakness and even some symptoms of difficulty swallowing. He went to the hospital for examination and was diagnosed with “hypokalemia”.
Uncle Wang has always been very puzzled. He clearly has a normal diet with three meals, so why is he still suffering from potassium deficiency? What is the way to supplement “potassium”?
First, potassium supplementation and calcium supplementation are equally important, but potassium deficiency is more dangerous
Maybe part People are relatively unfamiliar with “potassium”, but it is one of the indispensable elements in the human body. The operation of the human body’s nerves and muscles is inseparable from the energy provided by potassium.
Stable cells: Potassium mainly exists in cells, and it antagonizes and cooperates with sodium elements to maintain the normal osmotic pressure and acid-base balance of cells.
Heartbeat: Potassium is needed to maintain power during muscle contraction, heart pumping, and limb movement.
Chronic disease nemesis: Potassium also has the effects of lowering blood pressure, preventing stroke, and controlling blood sugar. For hypertensive patients, adequate potassium supplementation is beneficial to replace excess sodium in the body and achieve the purpose of controlling blood pressure. Foods rich in potassium help protect the heart and kidneys of people with type 2 diabetes.
The concentration of serum potassium in normal people is 3.3-5.5mmol/L. If serum potassium is <3.5 mmol/L, it can be judged as hypokalemia. Most patients have no clinical symptoms. symptoms, or only mild fatigue.
If serum potassium is <2.5 mmol/L, it is called severe hypokalemia, can cause cardiac rhythm disturbance, respiratory paralysis, etc..
Then why does taking antihypertensive drugs cause potassium deficiency?
Clinically commonly used antihypertensive drugs, including thiazide diuretics, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, etc., have their own adverse reactions.
The common side effect of hydrochlorothiazide diuretic used by Uncle Wang is hypokalemia. These antihypertensive drugs can cause potassium ions to be excreted together with the urine, resulting in the loss of potassium ions. If used in large quantities for a long time, it may cause symptoms of hypokalemia.
In addition, insufficient potassium intake, increased transfer of potassium ions into cells, loss of sweat, loss of urine, magnesium deficiency, etc., may also lead to potassium deficiency in the body.
Second, there are 4 kinds of abnormalities, or the body reminds that potassium is seriously insufficient
When there is a mild potassium deficiency, the body may have no obvious symptoms, but these The inconspicuous “little fault” may be reminding you that it is time to supplement potassium.
1. Fatigue
The most common symptoms of potassium deficiency are fatigue and weakness. Due to the lack of potassium ions, the body lacks energy, resulting in Fatigue, confusion, confusion, etc.
2. Heart discomfort
Potassium is closely related to heart function, and potassium deficiency will lead to Irregular heartbeat, palpitations, arrhythmia, etc.
3. Digestion
Low potassium content, insufficient gastric motility to digest, can cause loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea Wait.
4. Cramps
Potassium is a bridge between muscles and nerves, and can also help muscles contract. Potassium deficiency can cause cramps, muscle spasms, pain.
Third, the more potassium supplements, the better! 4 aspects teach you to supplement correctly
When it comes to potassium supplementation, the first reaction of many people is: eat bananas. However, if you want to supplement the potassium needed by the human body, eating bananas is not enough.
1. How much?
According to the nutrient reference intake of Chinese residents released by the Chinese Nutrition Society, the potassium intake of healthy people is 2000 mg per day. To prevent chronic disease, the recommended intake of potassium is 3600 mg/day.
According to the nutrition survey, the daily potassium intake of Chinese residents is only 1616.9 mg, which is far lower than the intake for chronic disease prevention.
In addition, for people with hypokalemia, there are 3, 6, 9 secrets in the field of potassium supplementation——
Mild potassium deficiency : Serum potassium (3.0-3.5 mmol/L) supplemented with potassium chloride 3g per day;
moderate potassium deficiency: serum potassium (2.5-3.0 mmol/L) an additional day Supplemented with potassium chloride 6g;
Severe potassium deficiency: Serum potassium (<2.5 mmol/L) was supplemented with an additional 9g of potassium chloride a day.
2. Who wants to make up?
Hypertensive patients: For these people, while supplementing potassium, they should also pay attention to limiting sodium, and sodium and potassium work together to defend the osmotic pressure inside and outside the body’s cells , water and pH balance, to achieve the purpose of controlling blood pressure.
People who sweat profusely: Potassium excretion increases significantly when you sweat profusely.
People who vomit or have diarrhea for a long time: Vomiting or diarrhea can cause a lot of dehydration in the body, causing electrolyte imbalances, resulting in a large loss of potassium.
3. How to make up?
Drugs
In the event of hypokalemia, add potassium chloride to normal saline for intravenous drip; if serum potassium is normal, then Adding potassium chloride to glucose intravenously can prevent hyperkalemia and correct potassium deficiency; if blood potassium is still normal 24 hours after stopping intravenous potassium supplementation, oral potassium supplementation can be changed.
Diet
Choose foods with higher potassium content in your daily diet, such as snake beans, which contain potassium per 100g 763mg; hazelnut mushroom, potassium 732mg per 100g; lily, potassium 510mg per 100g; edamame, potassium 478mg per 100g; carrot, potassium 385mg per 100g; red foraging, 340mg potassium per 100g, etc.
You can eat more fruits, avocado, potassium 599mg per 100g; coconut, potassium 475mg per 100g; jujube, potassium 375mg per 100g; plantain, potassium 330mg per 100g; jackfruit, potassium 330mg per 100g, etc.< /p>
Low sodium salt instead of regular salt
Low sodium salt contains approximately 25% potassium chloride , while potassium chloride contains 53% potassium. Low-sodium salt alone provides about 800 mg of potassium when limited to 6 grams of salt per day.
However, it should be noted that do not take potassium-containing pharmaceutical preparations to supplement easily. Potassium supplements are generally aimed at people with severe potassium deficiency, the general population and those with mild potassium deficiency. The best way is to supplement with food.
References:
[1] “Supplementing “potassium” is as important as supplementing calcium! Chronic diseases should stop with Skr”. Life Times. 2018-08-13
[2] “These 10 side effects of antihypertensive drugs and drug explanations should be mastered by everyone! “. Center for Drug Evaluation. 2022-03-03
[3] “How to supplement potassium supplementation? These basics must be mastered! 》.Medical Neurology Channel.2020-06-03