Hypokalemia is a lower-than-normal amount of potassium in the blood.
Alternative NamesPotassium - low; Low blood potassium
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPotassium is needed for cells, especially nerve and muscle cells, to function properly. You get potassium through food. The kidneys remove excess potassium in the urine to keep a proper balance of the mineral in the body.
Hypokalemia is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the level of potassium in the blood drops too low.
Possible causes of hypokalemia include:
A small drop in potassium usually doesn't cause symptoms. However, a big drop in the level can be life threatening.
Symptoms of hypokalemia include:
Your health care provider will take a sample of your blood to check potassium levels.
Other tests might include:
Mild hypokalemia can be treated by taking potassium supplements by mouth. Persons with more severe cases may need to get potassium through a vein (intravenously).
If you need to use diuretics, your doctor may switch you to a form that keeps potassium in the body (such as triamterene, amiloride, or spironolactone).
One type of hypokalemia that causes paralysis occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis). Treatment lowers the thyroid hormone level, and raises the potassium level in the blood.
Expectations (prognosis)Taking potassium supplements can usually correct the problem. In severe cases, without proper treatment, a severe drop in potassium levels can lead to death.
ComplicationsIn severe cases, patients can develop paralysis that can be life threatening. Hypokalemia also can lead to dangerous irregular heartbeat. Over time, lack of potassium can lead to kidney damage (hypokalemic nephropathy).
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have been vomiting or have had excessive diarrhea, or if you are taking diuretics and have symptoms of hypokalemia.
PreventionEating a diet rich in potassium can help prevent hypokalemia. Foods high in potassium include:
Seifter JL. Potassium disorders. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 118.
Schaefer TJ, Wolford RW. Disorders of potassium. Emerg Med Clin North Am. August 2005;23:723-747.
Lafrance JP, Leblanc M. Metabolic, electrolytes, and nutritional concerns in critical illness. Crit Care Clin. April 2005;21:305-327.
Fukagawa M, Kurokawa K, Papadakis M. Fluid and electrolyte disorders. In Gonzales R, Ziegler R, eds. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2007. New York, NY:McGraw-Hill, 2006.
Hypokalemia is a lower-than-normal amount of potassium in the blood.
Alternative NamesPotassium - low; Low blood potassium
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPotassium is needed for cells, especially nerve and muscle cells, to function properly. You get potassium through food. The kidneys remove excess potassium in the urine to keep a proper balance of the mineral in the body.
Hypokalemia is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the level of potassium in the blood drops too low.
Possible causes of hypokalemia include:
A small drop in potassium usually doesn't cause symptoms. However, a big drop in the level can be life threatening.
Symptoms of hypokalemia include:
Your health care provider will take a sample of your blood to check potassium levels.
Other tests might include:
Mild hypokalemia can be treated by taking potassium supplements by mouth. Persons with more severe cases may need to get potassium through a vein (intravenously).
If you need to use diuretics, your doctor may switch you to a form that keeps potassium in the body (such as triamterene, amiloride, or spironolactone).
One type of hypokalemia that causes paralysis occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis). Treatment lowers the thyroid hormone level, and raises the potassium level in the blood.
Expectations (prognosis)Taking potassium supplements can usually correct the problem. In severe cases, without proper treatment a severe drop in potassium levels can lead to serious heart rhythm problems that can be fatal.
ComplicationsIn severe cases, patients can develop paralysis that can be life threatening. Hypokalemia also can lead to dangerous irregular heartbeat. Over time, lack of potassium can lead to kidney damage (hypokalemic nephropathy).
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have been vomiting or have had excessive diarrhea, or if you are taking diuretics and have symptoms of hypokalemia.
PreventionEating a diet rich in potassium can help prevent hypokalemia. Foods high in potassium include:
Mount DB, Zandi-Nejad K. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 15.
Seifter JL. Potassium disorders. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 118.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/29/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Beta 2 adrenergic agonists cause increased potassium entry into cells, which can lead to hypokalemia
anti-hypokalemia..
- potassium chloride is used as a substitute for sodium chloride - potassium chloride is used to treat the rare hypokalemia
Hypokalemia is a when you have a lower amount of potassium in the blood than a normal person. Some things that can happen when your potassium is low would be muscle weakness and cramps, constipation, and paralysis.
No! Rather it is a very important element which exists in our body as ions. However, excess of it in the blood(hyperkalemia) is bad, as it can lead to cardiac arrest. Similarly, hypokalemia (low blood potassium) is also detrimental.Potassium cyanide, a chemical, is highly poisonous though, but here the toxicity is directly attributable to the cyanide ion (which stops cellular respiration), and NOT potassium.ACTUALLY Yes it is. In is a bodily toxin and is often used in executions to stop the heart. but when used properly and in moderation it is an exceptionally important element.
Hypokalemia and hyperkalmia both can have effects on the heart function. Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia can cause cardiac arriythmias.
Weakness, Fatigue, Muscle cramps, Constipation, Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) are symptoms are hypokalemia.
Hypokalemia
Beta 2 adrenergic agonists cause increased potassium entry into cells, which can lead to hypokalemia
Hypokalemia or low potassium can cause lethal heart rhythms. general tiredness , muscle twitching and damage.
It could. If its a diabetic patient who has raised serum postassium due to diabetic nephropathy then ace inhibitor can improve his diabetic nephropathy leading to hypokalemia.... BUT it DOESNT cause hypokalemia directly... instead it leads to hyperkalemia...
Hypokalemia potentiates the effects of digoxin. Hypokalemia reduces the drive of the Na-K-ATPase, resulting in increased cellular Na in cardiac muscles. Digoxin does the same thing by blocking the Na-K-ATPase.
Usually, hyperkalemia is associated with usage of digoxin. This is due to the blocking action of digoxin on the Na/K ase which results in accumulation of extracellular K+.Most of the times, patients presenting with heart problems are already on diuretics before they are prescribed with digoxin. Diuretics cause hypokalemia as they result in excessive excretion of K+ from the body. Hypokalemia in turn causes digoxin toxicity. Digoxin toxicity does not cause hypokalemia, but hypokalemia can worsen digoxin toxicity.
Beta 2 adrenergic agonists cause increased potassium entry into cells, which can lead to hypokalemia
Hypokalamia.
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hypokalemia