POTASSIUM
HOW DOES POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY AFFECT BLOOD PRESSURE & Life2Moro ® ?
POTASSIUM is a contributing factor to maintaining the correct function of your body’s tissues, organs and the trillions of cells that make up “The Building Blocks of Life” Plus one of the functions of Potassium is responsible for regulating blood pressure. What is the function of Potassium in our body? Potassium is an Electrolyte that conducts electricity in your body, working with Calcium, Chloride, Sodium and Magnesium. Potassium levels are important to maintain Heart functions, Skeletal structure and Muscle contraction, providing normal Digestive and Muscular functions.
However, it’s not “Black or White” to say Potassium will lower your blood pressure, let me try to explain! If you’re a person who leads a healthy life with a balanced diet you will probably have the correct levels of Potassium in your body. Although you may lead a healthy life with a good diet, you also may have high blood pressure and been told Potassium helps to lower blood pressure, so you decided to try Potassium Supplements. However, after a period of time you find that taking Potassium Supplements have not changed your blood pressure! The answer to this scenario may be due to your Potassium levels being correct, therefore taking Potassium would have no effect. The one thing you don’t want to do, is take a higher dose, this could possibly lead to an overdose.
I’m writing separate sections on Magnesium and Potassium as they both have a direct impact on blood pressure.
POTASSIUM LEVELS have a direct effect how your nerves communicate with muscle cells within your digestive system, also affects the heart and all muscles. The Potassium in the same way as Magnesium is stored inside body cells including cells in bones. The corrects levels of Potassium in your body are maintained within an accepted range by the Endocrine System which is made up of many glands that release vital hormones into the bloodstream. Things go wrong when glands produce incorrect levels of hormones. Endocrine Disease is common, a Doctor would normally refer you to an Endocrinologist who is trained in problems with the Endocrine System. Some symptoms are feeling weak and fatigued.
AN OVERDOSE of Potassium, in normal circumstances, doesn’t normally happen overnight, it can take weeks, sometimes months for symptoms appear. I would mention there are different circumstances that may cause instant side effects, I’ll cover these later. Again, normally if there is too much Potassium in the body it is filtered out and excreted in urine, bowel movements and even through sweating. However, if the Kidneys are not functioning correctly then Potassium will be retained in the body possibly being a cause of an overdose.
Overdose symptoms can manifest with feelings of weakness in muscles, tingling and numbness in fingers and feet, sometimes feeling nauseous. Should you have any sensations you feel may be caused by too much Potassium in the body, a simple blood test by your Doctor or Health Professional should be carried out to check your Potassium levels.
Although Magnesium is considered safe to patients with Atrial Fibrillation, you must talk to your Doctor or Health Professional before taking any Magnesium Supplements, as there may be reasons they are not appropriate for some conditions.
HIGH LEVELS of Potassium are referred to as a condition called Hyperkalaemia when levels are too high. A blood test will provide your Doctor or Health Professional with information for discussion. An adults normal reading should be between 3.5 & 5.0 mEq/L milliequivalents of solvent per litre of solvent. This blood test is a measurement of compounds in biological fluids. Levels above the accepted range 5.1 mEq/L to 6 mEq/L may need to be lowered, your Doctor or Health Professional will discuss options with you.
LOW LEVELS of Potassium are referred to as a condition called Hypokalaemia when the level of Potassium is too low. Again, a blood test with show the levels of Potassium in your body. Low levels start at 3.4 mEq/L, however, should your Potassium level drop to around 2.6mEq/L then urgent medical attention is required, these levels can be life threatening.
HEART PROBLEMS can be caused by either high or low Potassium which affects electrical signalling and therefore the function of nerves and muscle cells, particularly the muscle that keeps your heart beating.
CAUSES OF LOW Potassium (Hypokalaemia) which may cause High Blood Pressure can be caused by a loss of Potassium through Kidneys that are not working correctly. The body normally regulates how much Potassium is kept in the body, however, when things go wrong, the regulatory system fails to notice the amount of Potassium being passed out through the kidneys, which is secreted in urine, this is the beginning of the body having low Potassium levels
SENIOR CITIZENS who are taking tablets for high blood pressure, may suffer with side effects of low Potassium.
Tablets such as Thiazide Diuretics which are used to treat High Blood Pressure and Oedema, can cause a low potassium.
Thiazide and other types of Diuretics, are also referred to as Water Pills, these are prescribed to people who have heart and liver conditions requiring treatment, also people suffering with high blood pressure.
These Diuretics dilate blood vessels which helps lower the blood pressure.
Diuretics also excrete fluids from the body including Potassium by changing the way the kidneys regulate how much water and salt passes through the kidneys and in-turn excreting these fluids as urine. This action is then responsible for low levels of Potassium in your body referred to as Hypokalaemia. Some of the more common Diuretics are listed below.
- Chlorothiazide
- Furosemide
- Chlorthalidone
- Indapamide
- Bumetanide
- Methyclothiazide
- Metolazone
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Torsemide
- Hydrochlorothiazide
HYPERALDOSTERONISM
Hyperaldosteronism, also aldosteronism, is a medical condition wherein too much aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands, which can lead to lowered levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia) and increased hydrogen ion excretion (alkalosis).
Hyperaldosteronism, also aldosteronism, is a medical condition wherein too much aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands, which can lead to lowered levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia) and increased hydrogen ion excretion (alkalosis).
