Hypokalemia - a low content of potassium in the blood. Potassium - one of the important electrolytes, it is concentrated in the cells of the human body. Since only 2% of the total content of potassium into the bloodstream, even the slightest changes in the level of blood serum can affect the whole body. If serum potassium falls, it primarily affects the muscles and nerves.

How to start

Normal potassium level when measured in the serum is from 3, 5, 5, 0 mmol / L. The normal daily dose of potassium intake is 70-100 mM, kidneys must display the same amount of potassium daily. If you see more potassium, the total content of potassium in the body begin to decline. The result of this process can be hypokalemia.

Symptoms

The destruction of the muscle fibers, rhabdomyolysis, causes weakness and cramps, muscle pain and spasms.

Potassium affects the process of discharging energy neuromuscular cells and thus, when the level decreases, the cells can not repolyarizirovatsya and become unable to be discharged.

There may be changes in the data of an electrocardiogram (ECG), especially in the repolarization, since the heart - it is also a muscle. It may also manifest itself irregular, rapid heartbeat. In severe cases, hypokalemia can cause serious heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), or irregular heartbeat (dizaritmiya).

Here are some symptoms of low potassium levels:

• Constipation
• The paralysis that can go to the lungs
• Tingling or numbness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abdominal distention

In patients with hypokalemia observed copious and constant thirst. While a slight decrease in the level of potassium does not lead to the appearance of the above symptoms, a significant lack of it can be life threatening.

Cases of hypokalemia

There are several reasons for lack of potassium in the body. Among the most common causes:

• The use of diuretics
• Diarrhea
• Chronic laxative abuse
• Perspiration
• Loss of potassium can occur through the stomach or intestine. This can occur through vomiting, enemas, or excessive use of laxatives and due ileostomy.
• Medications to treat asthma or emphysema, steroids or theophylline, and the aminoglycoside.
• Renal diseases such as renal tubular acidosis, which leads to kidney failure.
• Magnesium deficiency and leukemia Leukemia - it is not a sentence   also lead to hypokalemia.
• The use of insulin
• Certain metabolic conditions such as alkalosis may prevent potassium spread cells, whereby the level of potassium in the blood decreases.
• Eating disorders such as bulimia
• The use of licorice in large amounts, or use of products such as herbal teas and chewing tobacco, which contains licorice with glycyrrhizin acid

Reducing the consumption of food or malnutrition

Diagnosing hypokalemia

Usually doctor takes a patient's blood to analyze and check the levels of potassium in the blood. Some of the other tests:

• A blood test for acidity and Gazi
• Analysis of serum creatinine Creatinine - will talk about the work of the kidneys   plasma and residual blood urea nitrogen
• Electrocardiogram
• Blood Glucose Glucose: The energy source Magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and thyroxin Thyroxine - the main thyroid hormone   and aldosterone

Hypokalemia may be a side issue. For example, if the patient is treated with high pressure diuretics also occurs monitor the level of potassium. Patients who experience vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration and weakness, can be tested for the level of electrolytes to determine whether there is a decrease in the level of potassium and whether it should be filled.

Trental tablets prescribed for coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders and blood circulation in the retina, if blood vessels are affected upper and lower limbs - in all these cases trental improves patients and stops the progression of vascular insufficiency.

How do the pills trental

Trental Tablets are not as intense as the introduction of the solution intravenously, and therefore have much less side effects and contraindications.

However, the mechanism of action and tablets, and the same solution. Softer tablets effect is that after receiving the active substance (pentoxifylline) is fully absorbed into the bloodstream and enters the tissues, including the runs of "first pass" through the liver, partially decompose there to exchange products (metabolites). Trental connected with membranes of erythrocytes and is metabolized first in the erythrocytes, and then, during the second passage through the liver, and there. Products exchange trental partially possess biological activity. Later trental metabolites excreted through the kidneys in the urine, and the unchanged substance - through the intestine with the feces. Excretion of trental reduced in elderly patients with liver diseases.

Once ingested, Trentalum energizes the smooth muscle cells of blood vessel walls, platelets, and erythrocytes. The result of this action is the removal of spasm of blood vessels and the expansion of the lumen, and restoring normal configuration erythrocyte (this leads to the fact that hemoglobin which is contained in them, it is better oxygenated) and prevention of platelet adhesion (this prevents thrombus).

In which cases are assigned

Tablets trental appointed in violation of permeability of the blood vessels caused by various reasons. Better if trental prescribe a course in the early stages of such diseases, then the process of changes in the circulatory system fails to suspend or slow down. But if the blood vessels are altered significantly, the trental not appointed.

The most frequent cause of systemic lesion of blood vessels is atherosclerosis, wherein in the walls of blood vessels are deposited atherosclerotic plaque. If such changes occur in the coronary arteries that feed the heart, a condition called coronary heart disease (CHD). Moreover, if there comes a spasm of the coronary arteries, it manifests itself as severe pain in the heart - angina attacks. Not removed promptly angina Angina - oxygen deficiency   It can lead to myocardial infarction - death of part of the tissue of the heart muscle.

If specified at the initial stages of coronary artery disease pills trental then expand coronary vessels, angina will become rare or disappear entirely. Similarly trental acts in violation of cerebral circulation - in this case it prevents the development of ischemic stroke.

Tablets trental courses are also prescribed under occlusive disease (inflammation of the blood vessel walls in the background allergy own tissues), retinal vascular lesions, feet and hands in diabetes Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease   and some other diseases.

Can there be an overdose

An overdose of pills trental is real, while the patient is experiencing the most discomfort. That is why trental tablets should not be taken by yourself, it may appoint a doctor.

An overdose of pills trental manifests itself in the form of a sharp decrease in blood pressure that can cause nausea, dizziness, Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet , Palpitation. There is the fear of death. If time does not have such a patient assistance, the temperature rises, there is a first motor and mental stimulation in the form of vomiting "coffee grounds" (a sign of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract), followed by loss of consciousness, convulsions and coma.

Treatment begins with an overdose emergency gastric lavage, and then give the patient a few tablets of activated charcoal Activated carbon - old but indispensable . Further treatment is usually performed in a hospital: prescribers, supporting vital functions, anticonvulsants, and so on.

Therefore trental pills sold in pharmacies only by prescription, he also appoints the dosage of the drug and the duration of treatment, given all the indications and contraindications for its use. Independently take pills trental impossible.

Galina Romanenko