What are the causes of hypokalemia and how to treat hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is a disease with a relatively high incidence rate. The reason for hypokalemia is, first of all, insufficient potassium intake, and secondly, excessive loss of potassium in the body. In addition, abnormal distribution of potassium in the body can also cause this symptom.

If for some reason, the body is seriously deficient in potassium, it is likely to cause hypokalemia. Although this disease is relatively common, it is very harmful to the human body and may be life-threatening in severe cases. If you want better treatment and prevention, you must understand the cause of the disease. So what is the cause of hypokalemia?

1. What is the cause of hypokalemia?

1. Insufficient potassium intake: The reason why people suffer from hypokalemia is probably due to insufficient potassium intake. For example, many people do not pay attention to their diet for a long time, often diet, and do not take in potassium-rich foods in time, which will naturally cause potassium deficiency. If the deficiency is more serious, it is easy to cause hypokalemia.

2. Excessive loss of potassium: In daily life, if the body loses too much potassium, it may also lead to hypokalemia. For example, severe diarrhea or vomiting, which leads to a large loss of digestive fluid, or long-term use of diuretics, will cause excessive excretion of potassium from the kidneys, eventually causing hypokalemia.

3. Abnormal distribution of potassium in the body: If the potassium distribution in the body is abnormal, it may also cause hypokalemia. For example, if glucose and insulin are used at the same time and in large quantities, or if alkalosis occurs, a large amount of potassium will be transferred into the cells, causing hypokalemia.

2. What are the dangers of hypokalemia?

1. Harm to the neuromuscular system: If you suffer from hypokalemia, it is likely to cause harm to the neuromuscular system, leading to muscle weakness and paroxysmal flaccid paralysis. Paroxysmal flaccid paralysis will have symptoms of muscle weakness before the onset of the disease.

2. Hazards to the cardiovascular system: Once suffering from hypokalemia, the patient will experience symptoms of arrhythmia and conduction block, including sinus tachycardia. In severe cases, it may cause paroxysmal atrial or ventricular tachycardia, and may even lead to ventricular fibrillation.

3. Hazards to the urinary system: If hypokalemia is not treated promptly and effectively, the renal tubules will be damaged, causing potassium-deficient nephropathy, which is extremely detrimental to kidney health and can even cause developmental delay in children.