Feeling lethargic? No appetite? These could be signs of low potassium (Hypokalemia)!

Do you sometimes feel like your body is just numb, your limbs are going numb, your muscles are twitching? Although these may seem like normal things, sometimes they can be a sign of something important happening inside your body. Today we are going to talk about one such condition, which is low potassium levels in the body, or in medical terms, hypokalemia .

Simply put, this is a decrease in the amount of potassium , a mineral that should be in our blood. Now you may be thinking, 'What is this potassium, is it so important?' Yes, it is very important! Potassium is essential for our muscles to function properly, for our cells to get the nutrition they need, and for our nervous system to function properly. Potassium is especially essential for our heart cells . It also helps to control blood pressure so that it does not get too high.

Why does potassium decrease like this? (Causes)

There are actually many reasons why our body may be low in potassium. Sometimes it can be due to excess potassium being lost through our digestive system . Or it can also be a symptom of another medical condition.

What is the main cause of low potassium?

Often, the main cause of low potassium levels is certain medications used to treat conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure . In particular, diuretics , or "water pills" in our colloquial language, cause excess potassium to be excreted in the urine.

What are the other reasons?

In addition to this main cause, several other factors can cause low potassium levels.

• Continued vomiting .
• Frequent use of laxatives .
• Prolonged diarrhea .
• Low magnesium levels in the body (hypomagnesemia).
• Drinking too much alcohol .
• Excessive sweating.
• Folic acid deficiency.
• An increase in acids called ketones in the blood of a person with diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis).
• Some medications used for asthma.
• Malnutrition.

Also, eating disorders, kidney disease, and certain medical conditions such as `(Cushing's syndrome)`, `(Gitelman syndrome)`, `(Liddle syndrome)`, `(Bartter syndrome)` can cause low potassium levels. Women are more likely to have this condition than men.

What are the symptoms of this? (Symptoms)

Symptoms usually depend on how low your potassium levels are and how long they have been low. If they are only mildly low, you may not have any symptoms at all. However, be aware of the following symptoms.

If your potassium levels remain low for a long time, it can also affect your kidneys. You may need to urinate more often and feel extremely thirsty.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose this condition?

To find out for sure if you have this condition, your doctor will do a blood test to measure the level of potassium in your blood. This may be done as part of a comprehensive metabolic panel. This also checks kidney function and the balance of electrolytes in your body.

• Normal level: The normal potassium level for an adult is between 3.5 and 5.5 millimoles per liter (3.5 - 5.5 mmol/L).
• Low levels (Hypokalemia): If your level is below 3.5 mmol/L , it is hypokalemia. Between 3.0-3.4 is considered mild, below 3.0 is considered moderate, and below 2.5 mmol/L is considered severe.

To find the cause, your doctor will ask about your medical history, the medications you are taking, and whether you have had any vomiting or diarrhea. They may also do a urine test to check for potassium in your urine. If there is any suspicion of an abnormality in your heart rhythm, an ECG (electrocardiogram) test may be done.

What is the treatment for low potassium?

If your condition is not severe, your doctor will often prescribe oral potassium supplements.

However, if the cause of this condition is another disease, your doctor will treat it. For example, if you have low potassium due to diuretics, you can stop taking that medication and switch to another type of medication. For example, you can use medications such as `(ACE) inhibitors`, `(ARB)` or `(beta-blockers)`. However, never stop taking any prescribed medication without talking to your doctor.

In some severe cases, hospitalization and intravenous (IV) potassium may be necessary.

• When potassium levels become dangerously low.
• When levels do not return to normal with oral pills.
• When there are abnormalities in the heartbeat.

When giving potassium intravenously, you should always be under medical supervision, as a condition called hyperkalemia can be both dangerous and debilitating.

Can this situation be prevented? (Prevention)

Yes, to some extent. If you have vomiting or diarrhea, drink plenty of water and fluids . If this condition persists for more than two days, be sure to see a doctor. If you drink alcohol, limit it.

The best way to do this is to eat a diet rich in potassium. An adult needs between 2,600 and 3,400 milligrams of potassium per day.