10 Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency
Causes Of Potassium Deficiency
Identifying potential risk factors and causes for a deficiency of potassium in the body is vital for better addressing the condition, and may also be helpful in preventing the development of hypokalaemia symptoms. The most obvious cause of a potassium deficiency would be a lack of this electrolyte in an affected individual’s daily diet. When this is the cause, the treatment approach to restoring optimal potassium levels is simple – the individual simply needs to increase their intake of foods that are high in potassium.
There are, however, other possible causes of low potassium levels in the body, which also need to be addressed here. It should be noted that, in most cases where a patient suffers from potassium levels that are low enough to diagnose them with hypokalaemia, the cause behind the condition is not related to their daily dietary intake of potassium, but can rather be pointed to a different cause. Excessive use of laxatives to promote stool movements, and frequently suffering from diarrhea, are two potential causes of a potassium deficiency. Other issues with the gastrointestinal tract that may contribute to poor potassium levels in the body include vomiting, villous adenoma and an ileostomy.
In some cases, the cause of low potassium levels may lie with the kidneys. Renal tubular acidosis, low magnesium levels in the body, and high levels of aldosterone in the body are all possible causes that are related to kidney function. Some conditions, such as Cushing’s Syndrome, may cause corticosteroid levels in the body to become elevated; thus also contributing to a reduction in potassium levels.
We should also note that potassium deficiencies can sometimes be blamed on the use of certain medication. Furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and other diuretic medication are known to increase the risk of developing a potassium deficiency. The use of prednisone and similar medications can cause corticosteroids in the body to increase, which also increases the risk of losing too much potassium. Other medications that may also contribute to poor potassium levels in the body include Amphotericin B and Aminoglycosides, such as tobramycin and gentamicin.
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