What are the symptoms of low potassium?

If there are too many potassium ions in the body, it will often lead to symptoms of hypokalemia. Potassium is very important for physical health. Our body is bloated. If we lack potassium, it will often lead to hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can cause problems in the neuromuscular system, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. In addition, it often leads to arrhythmia, and severe cases may cause heart failure.

Symptoms of low potassium levels

1. Neuromuscular system

People with low blood potassium often experience muscle weakness and paralysis, with attacks usually occurring more often at night and after exertion. The muscles of the head and neck will not be affected, but breathing difficulties may occur due to involvement of the respiratory muscles. Before the onset of the disease, the limbs become numb, then weak, and finally there is a complete loss of movement. Patients cannot stand, walk, sit or squat. Those with mild symptoms can barely stand up with the help of support, but cannot turn over on their own and may experience spasms and convulsions. Clear consciousness, indifferent expression, depression, drowsiness, poor memory, and fatigue of brain nerves.

2. Cardiovascular system

People with low potassium have problems with myocardial function, including arrhythmias and conduction blocks. In mild cases, it is sinus tachycardia; in severe cases, it is paroxysmal atrial or ventricular tachycardia, and possibly ventricular fibrillation. Potassium deficiency can aggravate digitalis and antimony poisoning, and even lead to death. The myocardial expansion capacity is reduced, causing the heart to enlarge and seriously suffer from heart failure.

3. Urinary system

Long-term hypokalemia can damage the renal tubules and cause potassium-deficient nephropathy, resulting in decreased tubular concentration, ammonia synthesis, hydrogen secretion and chloride ion reabsorption, and weakened sodium excretion and reabsorption, ultimately leading to metabolic hypokalemia and hypochlorite alkali poisoning.

4. Endocrine and metabolic system

People who are deficient in potassium have impaired glucose tolerance, and if a child has low blood potassium for a long time, his or her development will be affected. Patients with hypokalemia have reduced urinary potassium excretion, while those caused by renal tubular acidosis and acute renal failure have increased urinary potassium excretion (>40mmol/24 hours).

5. Digestive system

People who are deficient in potassium will have slower gastrointestinal motility. Patients with mild hypokalemia will only experience loss of appetite, abdominal distension, nausea, and constipation; patients with severe hypokalemia will develop paralytic intestinal obstruction.

6. Lack of energy

It is easy to doze off in the summer because the weather is hot and the temperature is too high, which causes the human body to excrete a large amount of sweat, which contains potassium. If it is not replenished in time, you will feel listless and have poor physical strength. The best amount of potassium for the human body is 150g.