Hypokalemia can cause

Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
Updated on November 19, 2024
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Hypokalemia can manifest as weakness, a bitter taste in the mouth, lack of appetite, irritability, or mood swings. In severe cases, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, reduced orientation ability, and confusion may occur. In terms of muscle and nerve effects, hypokalemia leads to decreased neuromuscular excitability, and when blood potassium levels fall below 2.5mmol/L, clinical symptoms of muscle weakness appear. If blood potassium levels drop below 2.0mmol/L, flaccid paralysis and disappearance or weakening of tendon reflexes may occur. In severe cases, paralysis of the respiratory muscles and even respiratory failure might develop. For the gastrointestinal tract, common symptoms include lack of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, with severe cases leading to intestinal paralysis. Hypokalemia can cause an increase in heart rate and even ventricular fibrillation, which can be fatal. Additionally, it can result in metabolic alkalosis. Hypokalemia can cause metabolic alkalosis, and vice versa, with each condition potentially leading to the other, often coexisting simultaneously.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Clinical manifestations of hypokalemia

The clinical manifestations of hypokalemia are diverse, with the most life-threatening symptoms affecting the cardiac conduction system and the neuromuscular system. Mild hypokalemia on an electrocardiogram presents as flattened T waves and the appearance of U waves, while severe hypokalemia can lead to fatal arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. In the neuromuscular system, the most prominent symptoms of hypokalemia are skeletal muscle flaccid paralysis and sustained smooth muscle tension, which can involve the respiratory muscles and lead to respiratory failure. Hypokalemia can also cause insulin resistance or hinder insulin release, leading to significant glucose tolerance abnormalities. Reduced potassium excretion decreases the kidney's ability to concentrate urine, resulting in polyuria and urine with low specific gravity.

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Written by Gan Jun
Endocrinology
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How much potassium should be supplemented daily for hypokalemia?

For patients with hypokalemia, the amount of potassium ions needed each day depends on the severity of the hypokalemia. There are specific causes for the occurrence of hypokalemia; it does not occur without relevant medical history. It is commonly seen in cases of inadequate diet, diarrhea, insufficient intake of potassium ions, clinical use of diuretics, and acid-base imbalance. That is to say, hypokalemia can be caused only if these factors are present. Without these factors, hypokalemia will not occur. Patients with hypokalemia need potassium supplementation therapy. If it's not severe, oral potassium chloride can be administered. For a few severe cases of hypokalemia, patients may receive intravenous fluids. Generally, the principle is to supplement four to six grams of potassium chloride per day. Potassium supplementation should be strictly in accordance with medical advice, and it's important to monitor the concentration of blood potassium regularly to adjust the treatment plan appropriately. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Hypokalemia is a condition.

Hypokalemia is classified as an electrolyte disorder. When suffering from hypokalemia, patients may experience general weakness and poor appetite. In severe cases, paralysis of the limbs may occur. There are certain causes of hypokalemia, which can be divided into three types. One is reduced intake, the second is excessive loss, and the third is abnormal distribution. Reduced intake mainly refers to patients with poor diets; excessive loss is common in patients with infections, diarrhea, and those who excrete a high amount of potassium in their urine; abnormal distribution refers to potassium moving from the extracellular space into cells, causing hypokalemia.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Hypokalemia belongs to the department of nephrology.

Hypokalemia is seen in various clinical departments and can affect the nervous system, muscles, heart, digestive system, kidneys, as well as carbohydrate metabolism and acid-base balance. If hypokalemia occurs, it is important to first identify the primary disease and treat it specifically in the corresponding department. In cases of severe hypokalemia, patients should be admitted to the intensive care unit. Treatment involves addressing the primary disease and promptly supplementing potassium. Severe hypokalemia, especially if accompanied by arrhythmias or muscle paralysis, requires immediate potassium supplementation. Potassium deficiency within cells recovers slowly; treatment may take four to six days to gradually reach a balance. Additionally, it is important to timely correct other electrolyte imbalances. The specific department to which the patient is admitted mainly depends on the primary disease, but in cases of very severe conditions, potassium supplementation should be managed in the intensive care unit.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
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Hypokalemia is a condition.

Potassium is one of the essential electrolytes for life. Its physiological functions mainly include maintaining cellular metabolism, regulating osmotic pressure, acid-base balance, and maintaining cell stress functions. The human body intakes about 100 millimoles of potassium each day, of which 90% is excreted through the kidneys, and the remainder is excreted through the gastrointestinal tract. Potassium mainly exists inside cells, with serum potassium accounting for only 2% of the total potassium in the body. The concentration of potassium in serum is between 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/L. If the concentration of serum potassium is below 3.5 mmol/L, it is considered hypokalemia, which is often due to insufficient potassium intake or excessive potassium excretion.