Potassium is found in food and acts as an electrolyte, helping to transmit electrical impulses throughout the body. This mineral supports many essential functions, including blood pressure regulation, fluid balance maintenance, normal muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, digestive support, heart rhythm stabilization, and pH balance within the body.
Healthy kidneys maintain stable potassium levels by eliminating excess through urine. The body does not produce potassium on its own, so individuals must supplement it according to recommended needs. Potassium deficiency can cause serious health issues, while excess potassium also poses short-term or long-term health risks.
**Potassium Deficiency (Hypokalemia)**
Several conditions can lead to hypokalemia, such as kidney disease, diuretic abuse, excessive sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, magnesium deficiency, or the use of certain antibiotics.
Symptoms of hypokalemia depend on the severity of the deficiency. Mild, temporary potassium reduction may not cause clear symptoms. For example, after intense sweating from strenuous exercise, potassium levels typically recover with eating or electrolyte supplementation. Conversely, severe potassium deficiency can be life-threatening, with signs such as extreme fatigue, muscle spasms or weakness, cramps, heart rhythm disorders, constipation, nausea, or vomiting.
Hypokalemia is often diagnosed through blood tests. In some cases, doctors may order additional appropriate diagnostic methods.
**Potassium Excess (Hyperkalemia)**
Too much potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, though it is rare in individuals with a balanced diet. The risk typically increases with an overdose of potassium supplements, kidney disease, prolonged exercise, the use of potassium-sparing diuretics, chemotherapy, diabetes, or severe burns.
A clear symptom of hyperkalemia is heart rhythm disorders, which can be fatal in severe cases. Individuals with mild hyperkalemia often show no clear symptoms and require regular monitoring via blood tests, especially if risk factors are present.
**Treatment**
**For Hypokalemia**
Potassium supplementation is often the first treatment when blood potassium levels are too low, especially effective in people with good kidney function. If hypokalemia is severe, particularly when heart rhythm disorders appear, patients may need intravenous potassium administration.
In some situations, doctors may prescribe potassium-sparing diuretics to help the body excrete sodium and rebalance electrolytes. However, some diuretics and potassium supplements can cause gastrointestinal side effects. Therefore, patients should consult a doctor and use medication as directed.
**For Hyperkalemia**
Mild cases of hyperkalemia are usually treated with prescription medications that increase potassium excretion through urine. Additionally, doctors may prescribe diuretics or enemas to help remove excess potassium from the body. In severe cases, patients may require more intensive interventions.
**Potassium-Rich Foods**
Potassium-rich fruits include durian, guava, kiwi, cantaloupe, banana, grapefruit, avocado, and fresh apricots. Carrot, passion fruit, pomegranate, orange, and tangerine juices also provide abundant potassium. Amaranth leaves, rainbow chard, baked potatoes with skin (926 mg in one medium potato), pumpkin, spinach, kidney beans, lentils, and lima beans are also rich sources of this mineral.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends the following daily potassium intake:
| Age | Males | Females |
| Infants to 6 months | 400 mg | 400 mg |
| 7 to 12 months | 860 mg | 860 mg |
| 1 to 3 years | 2,000 mg | 2,000 mg |
| 4 to 8 years | 2,300 mg | 2,300 mg |
| 9 to 13 years | 2,500 mg | 2,300 mg |
| 14 to 18 years | 3,000 mg | 2,300 mg |
| 19 to 50 years | 3,400 mg | 2,600 mg (2,900 mg if pregnant) |
| 51 years and older | 3,400 mg | 2,600 mg |
Bao Bao (According to Healthline)
