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Hypokalemia is a low level of potassium (K +) in the blood serum. [1] Mild low potassium does not typically cause symptoms. [3] Symptoms may include feeling tired, leg cramps, weakness, and constipation. [1] Low potassium also increases the risk of an abnormal heart rhythm, which is often too slow and can cause cardiac arrest. [1] [3]
Low potassium is caused by increased excretion of potassium, decreased consumption of potassium rich foods, movement of potassium into the cells, or certain endocrine diseases. [3] Excretion is the most common cause of hypokalemia and can be caused by diuretic use, metabolic acidosis , diabetic ketoacidosis , hyperaldosteronism , and renal ...
Cortisol at high concentrations can cross-react and activate the mineralocorticoid receptor due to the non-selectivity of the receptor, leading to aldosterone-like effects in the kidney. This is what causes the hypokalemia, hypertension, and hypernatremia associated with the syndrome. Patients often present with severe hypertension and end ...
The pathophysiology of hypertension is an area which attempts to explain mechanistically the causes of hypertension, which is a chronic disease characterized by elevation of blood pressure. Hypertension can be classified by cause as either essential (also known as primary or idiopathic) or secondary. About 90–95% of hypertension is essential ...
Laxative abuse can mimic the serum electrolyte abnormalities, but fractional excretion of potassium will be low; Diuretic abuse could be suspected if urinary chloride excretion varies by time of day but may require a diuretic assay to detect; Surreptitious vomiting can cause metabolic alkalosis and hypokalaemia, but urinary chloride levels will ...
This change has been shown to blunt the effects of excess salt intake on hypertension and cardiovascular disease. [1] [40] It has also been suggested that salt substitutes can be used to provide an essential portion of daily potassium intake, and may even be more economical than prescription potassium supplements. [41]
Liddle's syndrome, also called Liddle syndrome, [1] is a genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner that is characterized by early, and frequently severe, high blood pressure associated with low plasma renin activity, metabolic alkalosis, low blood potassium, and normal to low levels of aldosterone. [1]
Other medications for high blood pressure and a low salt diet, e.g. DASH diet, may also be needed. [1] [4] Some people with familial hyperaldosteronism may be treated with the steroid dexamethasone. [1] Primary aldosteronism is present in about 10% of people with high blood pressure. [1] It occurs more often in women than men. [5]