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Potassium is an essential mineral for the body. As it is vital for your health, a change in normal potassium level can indicate trouble.
Potassium is one of the essential minerals of the body. It is critical for your nerves, muscles and your heart to function. It offers multiple benefits that include the prevention of osteoporosis and kidney stones, reduced blood pressure and water retention and protection against stroke.
As it is vital for your health, a change in normal potassium levels can indicate trouble. Read on to understand the significance of variations in potassium level in the body.
Women tend to work a lot, and overlook their health. Potassium levels often deplete in women in their 50s because of insufficient balanced diet, stress and hormonal changes. And if potassium deplete too much, it can be fatal.
In an ideal situation, when your kidneys function optimally, they are responsible for maintaining a healthy potassium balance and flushing out the excess potassium from your body. But there are instances when your potassium levels can get high. This condition is called hyperkalemia or high potassium.
Hyperkalemia is a condition characterized by high levels of potassium in the blood. For most people, the level of potassium in your blood should be between 3.5 and 5.0 millimoles per litre. A potassium level above 5.5 mmol/L is considered high, and above 6.5 mmol/L is dangerously high and can result in heart problems requiring immediate medical care.
On the other hand, Hypokalemia refers to low blood potassium levels. A very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention.
If your body’s potassium levels are below 3.4 mmol/litre, it’s hypokalemia. Potassium levels below 2.5 are life-threatening.
Hyperkalemia
Hypokalemia
Most people won’t realize there is a change in normal potassium levels, as they may not have had any symptoms. You may know it only when you do a routine blood test.
Some Symptoms of high potassium include:
Symptoms of low potassium include:
For high potassium levels, treatment generally includes:
For treating low potassium levels, your doctor will determine the underlying cause and then may prescribe potassium supplements.
If your potassium levels are not dangerously high, dietary modifications may help lower your potassium levels.
Always follow your doctor’s instructions for treating your high potassium levels and discuss what would be the best diet plan for you.
A potassium-rich diet that includes the above-mentioned items will help with low potassium levels. Your doctor may also prescribe supplements that will help manage the condition effectively.
Here are some foods that can help reduce potassium levels in women:
Additionally, while these foods can help lower potassium levels, it’s also important to limit intake of high-potassium foods such as apricots, avocado, banana, cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon, grapefruit, mango, pomegranate, and raisins.
As symptoms of change in normal potassium levels do not show up in the early stages, it is best to get regular blood tests done if you are at risk for this condition. If you have kidney disease, a heart condition, hypertension, or diabetes, you may have an increased risk of developing high potassium levels.
Whether you have high or low potassium levels, it’s possible to treat both conditions with timely intervention.
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