Potassium in the urine
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Potassium in the urine is an important marker, an indicator of normal, healthy nutrition, as well as the state of the hormonal system, assessing the degree of intoxication, if one is diagnosed. In addition, potassium in the urine is a sign of the normal functioning of the kidneys.
Potassium is considered one of the most important macroelements in the body, considered to be nutrient, since it is intracellular (98% of potassium is inside cells). A small percentage (2%) are located outside the cells and this small part is responsible for the normal contraction of muscle tissue, the transmission of an electrical nerve signal - the pulse, for the normalization of blood pressure. Potassium is located in almost all human organs, but especially in a lot of those in which there are muscles, that is, in the heart and kidneys. There is also a lot of potassium in the brain. If a person is exposed to stress, chronic or single, the body immediately loses manganese and potassium.
Potassium in urine depends on the specific diet, acid-base balance, the intake of certain drugs and age.
The norm, which must be the potassium in the urine is this:
- Children - from 10 to 60 mmol / day;
- Adults - from 30-100 mmol / day.
Potassium is excreted mainly by the kidneys and this process is regulated by filtration in the renal glomeruli and energy-consuming work on the reabsorption in the kidneys.
Potassium in the urine makes it possible to assess the loss of this important macronutrient within 24 hours. Especially important are similar studies for seriously ill people (resuscitation), as the analysis of potassium helps in a timely manner to correct potassium replacement therapy.
Potassium in the urine is allocated too intensively with the intake of diuretic drugs, polyuria due to nephritis, diabetic acidosis. Also potassium can be excreted when heavy intoxication or elementary fasting. Hypercalorie - too high a concentration of potassium can occur with blood transfusions, if the material is not suitable for the recipient, also with pituitary hyperplasia (Isenko-Cushing syndrome), kidney pathology. In addition to diuretics, the concentration of potassium in the urine is increased by hormonal drugs, such as hydrocortisone or cortisone. Hypocaliuria - decreased potassium concentration is a symptom of severe dehydration, malnutrition (lack of potassium in food), diarrhea, glomerulonephritis, nephrosclerosis or pyelonephritis.
Potassium in the urine depends heavily on the patient's age and lifestyle. The potassium level is restored with the help of special preparations, in light cases - a special diet, using products containing this important macroelement in high concentration. It can be yeast, where potassium is contained in large quantities, dried apricots or raisins, nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, some types of sea fish and many others, useful and absolutely not stomach-aggravating products. Potassium in the urine stabilizes fairly quickly, if there are no severe pathologies. If serious health problems are diagnosed, potassium in the urine can not be raised independently, because its level is closely related to the presence of other important micro and macro elements.
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