Why does the human body lack potassium?

Hello, my friend! I'm glad to answer your question. I hope my answer is helpful to you. I wish you a speedy recovery. Serum potassium concentration below 3.5 mmol/L is called hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is more common in long-term fasting or eating less, and potassium salt intake is insufficient; Excessive potassium excretion caused by vomiting, diarrhea and long-term use of diuretics such as furosemide. The main clinical manifestations are nerve and muscle dysfunction. The more potassium is lost, the faster it is, or the more Na+ and Ca+ concentrations increase at the same time, the more obvious the symptoms are. Hypokalemia is often mixed with primary symptoms, which easily delays the diagnosis and should be paid attention to. When potassium is supplemented intravenously, the urine volume must be above 30ml// hour. Don't go too fast or too far. Intravenous injection is strictly prohibited, and only slow drip is allowed. The common symptoms of hypokalemia are

1. Limbs are weak and flaccid, tendon reflex is slow or disappears, and in severe cases, it is difficult to breathe.

2. Indifferent mind, dull eyes, lethargy and unconsciousness.

3. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and intestinal paralysis.

4. Palpitation and arrhythmia.

What tests do hypokalemia need to do?

1. Serum potassium is less than 3.5 mmol/L.

2. ECG shows that T wave is flat, bidirectional or inverted, and U wave appears.

How to treat

1. Actively treat the primary disease causing K+ deficiency and restore normal diet.

2. Supplement potassium salt:

(1) When supplementing potassium, try to take it orally if you can, and give it intravenously if you can't.

(2) intravenous injection of potassium chloride, it is forbidden to push injection, generally add glucose solution drip, the concentration shall not exceed 3%, the drop rate shall not exceed 80 drops per minute; Do not drop more than 6g-8g every 24 hours.

(3) When accompanied by acidosis, potassium bicarbonate can be used instead.

(4) potassium glutamate can be used for patients with liver function damage.

(5) When the heart is obviously involved or accompanied by magnesium deficiency, potassium magnesium L- aspartate can be used.

What is potassium?

If the human body lacks electrolyte, many physiological functions will stop and the balance of water and acid-base will be destroyed.

Potassium can help the heart keep a regular heartbeat and help stabilize blood pressure.

Functions of potassium:

Potassium is a large amount of substance in the body, most of which exists in every cell and coordinates with the inside outside the cell.

Maintain the acid-base balance of blood and body fluids, and maintain the water balance and osmotic pressure stability in the body.

Other potassium is stored in nerves, blood cells and muscles.

The most important function of sodium, potassium and chlorine is to keep the balance between water and pH in the body.

Effects of potassium deficiency on the body;

Long-term potassium deficiency can cause arrhythmia, abnormal nerve conduction and vomiting.

When a large amount of water is lost (such as diarrhea and excessive sweating), in addition to replenishing water,

Also add electrolyte, if you only add a lot of water without electrolyte, you will have weakness, spasm,

"Exhaustion" symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Source of absorption:

Meat, milk, cheese

Fresh fruits and vegetables, oranges, raisins, potatoes, bananas, wax gourd.

Bananas contain the most potassium.

Recommended potassium intake:

The intake of potassium should not be excessive, otherwise it will lead to the loss and shortage of sodium.

Those who take antibiotics, diuretics and high salt intake for a long time must supplement potassium.

"Antiperspirant" as Potassium Supplement in Summer Health News

In summer, many people in the city are used to taking a bottle of pure water when they go out; In rural areas, people like to drink tea when they go out to work. Although both of them can replenish the water lost due to excessive sweating, they have different effects. Drinking tea can not only quench thirst, but also eliminate fatigue. Why can drinking tea eliminate fatigue? The reason is that the human body is prone to potassium deficiency in summer, which will make people feel tired and weak, and tea is rich in potassium.

There are three reasons for potassium deficiency in summer. First, people sweat a lot in summer. In addition to water and sodium, sweat also contains a certain amount of potassium ions. Second, people's appetite declines in summer, and the potassium ions absorbed from food are correspondingly reduced, which will lead to insufficient potassium intake. Third, when the weather is hot, the human body consumes more energy, and energy metabolism needs the participation of potassium.

The concentration of potassium in human serum is only 3.5 ~ 5.5 mmol/L, but it is necessary for life activities. The main function of potassium in human body is to maintain acid-base balance, participate in energy metabolism and maintain the normal function of neuromuscular. When the human body lacks potassium, it will cause general weakness, fatigue, weakened heartbeat and dizziness, and severe potassium deficiency will also lead to respiratory muscle paralysis and death. In addition, low potassium can also slow down gastrointestinal peristalsis, lead to intestinal paralysis, aggravate anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and other symptoms. Clinical medical data also prove that all patients with heatstroke have decreased blood potassium.

The key to prevent and treat low potassium is to supplement potassium. Clinically, 10% potassium chloride solution can be taken orally, but the safest and most effective method is to eat more foods rich in potassium, especially fruits and vegetables. Fruits rich in potassium include bananas, strawberries, oranges, grapes, grapefruit and watermelons. Vegetables such as spinach, yam, edamame, amaranth and scallion are also rich in potassium, and soybeans, mung beans, broad beans, kelp, laver, yellow croaker, chicken, milk and corn flour also contain a certain amount of potassium. All kinds of fruit juices, especially orange juice, are also rich in potassium, which can supplement water and energy. The tea mentioned above must contain 1. 1%~2。 3% potassium, so tea is the best summer drink.

Eat more potassium and less strokes.

According to the statistical data released by the 24th Society of Internal Medicine held in Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany, 60% of stroke cases are caused by hypertension, 30% by arteriosclerosis, and only 10% is caused by cerebral aneurysm, cerebrovascular malformation or hemorrhagic disease, and the formation and development of hypertension and arteriosclerosis are related to patients' diet.

The follow-up observation of American doctors on 859 men and women aged 50-79 in Southern California in 12 showed that the death rate of stroke caused by eating low-potassium diet was indeed higher than that of eating high-potassium diet. Follow-up observation shows that increasing daily potassium intake 10 mg can reduce the risk of stroke death by 40%. Therefore, if patients with hypertension and arteriosclerosis can eat more foods with high potassium content, it will help to lower blood pressure and reduce the possibility of death from stroke.

Foods rich in potassium include beans, vegetables and fruits. Soybean has the highest content in beans; The vegetables with the most potassium are spinach, potato, yam and lettuce. Among fruits, oranges have the highest potassium content.

Don't forget to supplement potassium when sweating.

Under normal circumstances, although the potassium content of the diet is not high, it can just meet the needs of the human body and does not need special supplementation. Hot summer can keep high temperature, especially this summer. A lot of sweating will lead to potassium deficiency in the body, which will make people feel tired, weak, lack of energy and physical strength, and at the same time reduce their heat resistance. If potassium is seriously deficient, it will often lead to acid-base imbalance, metabolic disorder, arrhythmia and muscle weakness and laziness. Therefore, it is very important to supplement the right amount of potassium in the diet in summer.

Potassium-containing foods are widely distributed, and almost all animals and plants contain potassium, especially beans, vegetables and fruits. The beans with high potassium content mainly include soybeans, mung beans, mung beans and broad beans. Vegetables with more potassium are spinach, yam, potato, celery and green onion. In addition, corn flour, buckwheat flour, milk, chicken and yellow croaker also have a certain content. Be accurate

Lack of potassium makes people tired. Tea can supplement potassium to relieve summer heat.

In summer, many people in the city are used to taking a bottle of pure water when they go out; In rural areas, people like to drink tea when they go out to work. Although both of them can replenish the water lost due to excessive sweating, they have different effects. Drinking tea can not only quench thirst, but also eliminate fatigue. Why can drinking tea eliminate fatigue? The reason is that the human body is prone to potassium deficiency in summer, which will make people feel tired and weak, and tea is rich in potassium.

There are three reasons for potassium deficiency in summer. First, people sweat a lot in summer. In addition to water and sodium, sweat also contains a certain amount of potassium ions. Second, people's appetite decreases in summer, and the potassium ion intake from food decreases accordingly, which will lead to insufficient potassium intake; Third, when the weather is hot, the human body consumes more energy, and energy metabolism needs the participation of potassium.

The key to prevent and treat low potassium is to supplement potassium. Clinically, 10% potassium chloride solution can be taken orally, but the safest and most effective method is to eat more foods rich in potassium, especially fruits and vegetables. Fruits rich in potassium include bananas, strawberries, oranges, grapes, grapefruit and watermelons. Vegetables such as spinach, yam, edamame, amaranth and green onion are also rich in potassium. All kinds of fruit juices, especially orange juice, are also rich in potassium, which can supplement water and energy. The tea mentioned above contains potassium 1. 1% ~ 2.3%, so tea is the best summer drink.

What are the symptoms of potassium deficiency?

The concentration of potassium in human serum is only 3.5 ~ 5.5 mmol/L, but it is necessary for life activities. The main function of potassium in human body is to maintain acid-base balance, participate in energy metabolism and maintain the normal function of neuromuscular. When the human body lacks potassium, it will cause general weakness, fatigue, weakened heartbeat and dizziness, and severe potassium deficiency will also lead to respiratory muscle paralysis and death. In addition, low potassium can also slow down gastrointestinal peristalsis, lead to intestinal paralysis, aggravate anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and other symptoms. Clinical medical data also prove that all patients with heatstroke have decreased blood potassium. (Health News)

Potassium substitute

Potassium is the most cation in cells. Only 2% of total potassium is extracellular. Because most of intracellular potassium is in muscle cells, the total amount of potassium is roughly proportional to the body muscle mass. The average potassium content of 70kg adults is about 3500mEq.

Potassium is the main determinant of intracellular osmotic pressure. The correlation between intracellular and extracellular potassium concentration strongly affects cell membrane polarization, which in turn affects important cellular processes, such as nerve impulse conduction and muscle (including myocardium) contraction. Therefore, relatively small changes in plasma potassium can have obvious clinical manifestations.

When there is no serious metabolic disorder, plasma potassium provides a reasonable clinical estimate of total potassium content. Assuming that the plasma pH value is unchanged, the plasma potassium concentration is reduced from 4 to 3mEq/L, indicating that the total potassium deficiency is 65,438+000 ~ 200 meq. Plasma potassium concentration decreased to < 3 meq/L, indicating that the total potassium deficiency was about 200~400mEq. In many pathological situations, plasma potassium concentration is no longer a reliable indicator of total potassium content, because potassium is released into cells or out of cells.

Potassium balance in vivo

Many factors affect the movement of potassium inside and outside cells. The most important thing is the level of insulin in circulating blood. For insulin, potassium enters cells, thus reducing the plasma potassium concentration. When circulating insulin is deficient, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, even if there is total potassium deficiency, potassium will move out of cells and increase plasma potassium. Stimulating the sympathetic nervous system will also affect the intracellular potassium movement. β-agonists, especially selective β2- agonists, promote the absorption of potassium by cells. However, the excitation of β -blockers or α -agonists seems to promote the migration of potassium out of cells. Plasma potassium is also obviously affected by plasma pH value. Acute acidosis promotes potassium to move out of cells and enter ECF. Acute metabolic alkalosis promotes potassium to move in the opposite direction. However, the change of plasma HCO3 _ 3 concentration may be more important than the change of pH. Therefore, acidosis caused by inorganic acid accumulation (hyperchlorinated acidosis without anion gap) is likely to show the increase of plasma potassium caused by cell transfer. On the contrary, metabolic acidosis caused by organic acid accumulation (acidosis with increased anion gap) will not cause hyperkalemia. Therefore, hyperkalemia is often accompanied by insulin deficiency, diabetic acidosis and increased ECF tension rather than acidosis itself. Acute respiratory acidosis and alkalosis have less influence on plasma potassium concentration than metabolic disorder. However, the plasma potassium concentration is determined by the plasma pH (and HCO3).

External potassium balance

The normal fluctuation of dietary potassium intake is between 40~ 150mEq/d, and the loss of potassium in feces is relatively constant, with a small amount (about 10% intake). Adjust urinary potassium excretion to be close to potassium intake to maintain balance. However, when potassium load is ingested rapidly, only about 50% will appear in urine in the next few hours. Because most of the remaining potassium is transferred to cells.

When the intake of potassium in food decreases, intracellular potassium acts as a buffer to counteract the fluctuation of plasma potassium concentration. The effect of kidney potassium preservation on reducing potassium in diet is relatively slow, far less than the ability of kidney sodium preservation. The renal potassium excretion of 20 eq/24h almost represents the maximum renal potassium retention, thus suggesting obvious potassium loss.

Plasma potassium is freely filtered through glomeruli. Most of the filtered potassium is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule and Henry's ring. Normally, potassium is secreted into the filtrate of distal tubules and collecting ducts. The net excretion of renal potassium is mainly regulated by the change of potassium secretion in distal nephron. The secretion of distal potassium is influenced by aldosterone and acid-base state, and the urine flow rate and membrane polarization of distal nephron are regulated. High circulating aldosterone levels lead to increased potassium secretion and urinary potassium excretion. The deficiency and inhibition of aldosterone reduce the potassium secretion of the distal nephron, leading to renal potassium retention. Acute acidosis impairs potassium excretion, while chronic acidosis and acute alkalosis cause urinary potassium excretion (see acid-base metabolism disorder below). Increasing the urine flow rate of distal nephron and high distal nephron is beneficial to potassium secretion. The sodium reabsorption of the distal nephron increases the lumen negative potential, which further supports the secretion of potassium. Therefore,

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The determination of plasma potassium concentration in laboratory is usually correct. In the past, the flame photometric method has been replaced by the specific ion electrode method. The latest colorimetric method has been used for rapid determination of plasma potassium by bedside. Although it can't replace clinical experiment, this method is correct and practical, especially in ICU, which can provide rapid results.

Several diseases lead to false plasma potassium concentration. Pseudohypokalemia (pseudohypokalemia) is occasionally seen in patients with myeloid leukemia with extremely high white blood cells (> 105/μ L). If the sample is placed at room temperature before determination, the abnormal white blood cells can absorb potassium in plasma or electrolyte in serum can be determined, so the plasma can be separated immediately. Pseudohyperkalemia (pseudohyperkalemia) can also occur, which is the most common. Intracellular potassium is released from the red blood cells of the specimen. Therefore, we should be careful not to draw blood quickly or shake blood samples violently through small-caliber needles. Pseudohyperkalemia can be caused by thrombocytosis (platelet count > 106/μ L), and potassium is released from platelets during coagulation. Pseudohyperkalemia, plasma potassium (non-coagulation), as opposed to serum potassium, will be normal.

Potassium metabolism disorder

hypokalemia

The decrease of serum potassium concentration is less than 3.5 meq/L, which is due to insufficient overall potassium reserve or abnormal migration of potassium into cells.

Etiology and pathogenesis

Hypokalemia can be caused by decreased potassium intake, but it is usually caused by excessive urine potassium or gastrointestinal potassium loss. Abnormal loss of gastrointestinal potassium occurs in chronic diarrhea and long-term abuse of laxatives or intestinal bypass. Other causes of gastrointestinal potassium loss include craving for clay, vomiting and stomach suction. Rare choriocarcinoma of colon can cause massive potassium loss in gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal potassium loss is due to metabolic alkalosis and volume loss, stimulating aldosterone secretion, combined with renal potassium loss.

Potassium transfer into cells can also cause hypokalemia, so it occurs in the process of total parenteral nutrition, big meal and glycogen synthesis after insulin administration. Stimulating sympathetic nervous system, especially using B2 agonists, such as Shuchuanning and tert-butylchuanning, can cause hypokalemia due to absorption of potassium from cells. Similarly, due to the overexcitation of β -sympathetic nerve (hypokalemic thyroid periodic paralysis), patients with thyrotoxicosis occasionally have severe hypokalemia. Familial periodic paralysis is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease. It is characterized by transient and paroxysmal severe hypokalemia caused by sudden abnormal transport of potassium into cells (see hyperkalemia). Seizures are often accompanied by varying degrees of paralysis. It is usually caused by eating a lot of carbohydrates or strenuous exercise, but this variant does not have these manifestations.

Different diseases will lead to an increase in potassium loss in the kidney. Urinary potassium excretion can occur when excessive mineralocorticoid directly acts on the distal nephron to promote potassium secretion. Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, rare renin-secreting tumor, glucocorticoid-treatable aldosteronism (a rare hereditary disease) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia can all lead to hypokalemia with excessive mineralocorticoids. Inhibition of 1 1-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (1 1β-HSDH) can block the transformation of cortisol (with some mineralocorticoid activity) into corticosteroids (with salt-free corticosteroid activity).

Liddle syndrome (see section 229) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by severe hypertension and hypokalemia. Liddle syndrome is caused by unlimited sodium reabsorption of distal nephron, which is encoded by mutation of epithelial sodium channel subunit gene. Improper high sodium reabsorption leads to hypertension and renal potassium loss.

Barthes syndrome (see section 229) is a rare disease with unknown causes, which is characterized by the loss of potassium and sodium in the kidney, excessive production of renin and angiotensin, and normal blood pressure.

Finally, renal potassium loss can be caused by many congenital and acquired renal tubular diseases, such as renal tubular acidosis and Fanconi syndrome, which is a rare syndrome that can lead to the loss of renal potassium, sugar, phosphorus, uric acid and amino acids.

Diuretics are the most commonly used drugs that cause hypokalemia. Potassium-consuming diuretics block sodium reabsorption in the distal nephron, including thiazides, loop diuretics and osmotic diuretics. Sodium aminosalicylate, amlodipine and triamterene block sodium reabsorption in distal tubules and collecting ducts, so there is no potassium consumption. Hypokalemia can be caused by inducing diarrhea and laxatives, especially abuse. Stealing diuretics and

Potassium-rich food

The role of potassium is often associated with sodium, which plays a very important role in maintaining osmotic pressure, acid-base balance, cell metabolism and neuromuscular excitability. Too low or too high blood potassium will have serious consequences.

Potassium is widely distributed in natural foods and is generally not lacking in daily diet. If the diet is unbalanced, people tend to eat meat, eggs, polysaccharides and salt, while eating less food, beans, vegetables and fruits, the intake of potassium will decrease. Unreasonable cooking, cooking stuffing into vegetable juice and eating vegetables to get soup, is equivalent to eating "low-potassium vegetables", and a lot of potassium is lost invisibly. Chronic diseases may lead to potassium malabsorption, diarrhea and vomiting, and some diuretics will make potassium lose too much. Potassium is needed for the formation of glycogen. When eating a lot of sugar, the concentration of potassium in the blood drops rapidly. Uncontrolled diabetics often lose a lot of potassium from urine, so they need to supplement potassium.

Foods with high potassium content include fresh broad beans, Malingbu, yam, spinach, amaranth, kelp, laver, black dates, apricots, almonds, bananas, walnuts, peanuts, mung beans, soybeans, mung beans, edamame, lamb loin and pork loin. High potassium diet is not suitable for everyone, acute and chronic renal insufficiency, oliguria or anuria, potassium can not be excreted in time; Shock or adrenal insufficiency can not only supplement potassium, but also control potassium intake. (Shanghai Medical Network)

Patients with coronary heart disease should not forget to supplement potassium while limiting salt.

A large number of studies show that hypertension is one of the risk factors of coronary heart disease. According to the survey data, a considerable proportion of patients with coronary heart disease suffer from hypertension, which can promote the development of coronary heart disease. Therefore, it is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease to control hypertension and reduce blood pressure level. At the same time, sodium promotes blood circulation, increases cardiac output and directly increases the burden on the heart, which is unfavorable to patients with coronary heart disease with insufficient blood supply to the heart. At present, it is generally believed that sodium intake can promote the onset of hypertension. Epidemiological data show that the incidence of hypertension in northern Japan is as high as 40%, which is significantly higher than the daily intake of about 5 grams of salt by Eskimos in North America. The study also proved that if the average daily intake of salt is less than 5 grams, the average diastolic blood pressure can be reduced by 0.53 kPa (4 mm Hg). Therefore, salt restriction can be used as a non-drug treatment for hypertensive patients.

So, how much salt should patients with coronary heart disease limit? It depends on whether the patient has high blood pressure at the same time and the situation of high blood pressure. Someone put forward a stricter salt limit, which should not exceed 5 grams per day. Some people are harder to do and harder to stick to. The author thinks that we should gradually limit the amount of salt according to our own situation, so that our taste can gradually adapt to a low-salt diet. The specific method is: when cooking, sprinkle salt on the dish before it is cooked, which can obviously feel the salty taste; You can also use condiments such as sugar, vinegar and spices to increase the taste of food and reduce the amount of salt. At present, the low sodium salt sold in the market is also a good choice for limiting salt (sodium).

Finally, it should be pointed out that potassium salt has protective effect on myocardial cells. Antihypertensive drugs that promote sodium excretion often increase potassium excretion, leading to potassium deficiency in the body. Therefore, while limiting salt (sodium) in the diet, we should eat more foods containing potassium, such as whole grains, beans, meat, vegetables and fruits all contain a certain amount of potassium. Although most animal foods contain more potassium than vegetables and fruits, they contain more sodium and cholesterol, while vegetables and fruits contain little sodium. So eat more fruits and vegetables to supplement potassium. Foods with high potassium content include spinach, radish, cabbage, celery stalks, pumpkins, fresh peas and lemons. , these are optional.