#afib #electrolytes #anxiety #bloodpressure
POTASSIUM (K) is a critical electrolyte that works across cell membranes in conjunction with Sodium. It is part of the mechanism that allows for the correct passage of chemicals through the membranes. Most people are deficient in Potassium to some degree. An extreme deficiency is known as Hypokalemia.
Below is a list of typical symptoms of a Potassium deficiency. Note the first six can also be symptoms of a Magnesium deficiency, so it is easy to confuse the two, though in most cases if you are deficient in one you will likely be deficient in the other. One symptom in the list (Oedema, #4) does not occur with a Mg deficiency, so this could help you tell.
1) Anxiety (ie worry; not to be confused with Depression)
2) Insomnia
3) High Blood Pressure
4) Fluid Retention (swollen/puffy ankles and feet, called "oedema")
5) Lower Leg or Foot Cramps (particularly at night)
6) Constipation
7) Arrhythmias (either Heart Palpitations, or a Racing Heart/Tachycardia)
You might not have all of these symptoms, but if you have 4 or 5 of them and are concerned, you should consider the high possibility that this is your issue (which is good news, as it’s easy to fix!) I suffered from ALL SEVEN (in addition to further symptoms of Mg deficiency - see link below to video about MAGNESIUM) but cured all of them quite quickly once I understood my problem.
Reasons for being low in Potassium include:
1) Poor Diet (inadequate Potassium intake due to processed food and too much carbohydrate/sugar)
2) Excessive Alcohol Use (alcohol is a diuretic)
3) Insulin Resistance (pre-diabetes/obesity)
4) Medications that are diuretic
5) Short Term Illness with Vomiting or an Upset Stomach
6) Excessive Sweating (in hot weather or from intense exercise)
7) High water intake with low electrolytes
8) Kidney Disease (kidneys regulate Potassium levels)
9) Stress (the stress hormone Cortisol interferes with the kidneys’ ability to recover Potassium from the urine)
(As most of these problems also affect your Magnesium levels, it is common to be deficient in both)
Foods rich in Potassium:
1) Green leafy vegetables, especially the Brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower) as well as asparagus and spinach.
2) Nuts (especially almonds)
3) Avocados
4) Salmon or other cold water, oily fish
PLEASE NOTE blood test results will not tell you your Potassium is low, unless you are critically ill, and need to be hospitalized immediately. Your body controls the serum Potassium (ie blood Potassium) very strictly so the level is always within a “normal” range in a test, but it will not show that Potassium is low in the muscles and tissue fluid. The best way to diagnose this is by noting the symptoms, using some common sense when looking at the possible causes, then addressing it to see if the symptoms improve.
*Do not use a Potassium supplement if you are on any heart medication*, particularly for BP, as many BP meds (like LOSARTAN) are high in Potassium themselves (so you are effectively already supplementing). *DISCUSS SUPPLEMENTING WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR CARDIOLOGIST*.
If you do supplement Potassium, it is advisable to supplement Magnesium at the same time as the deficiency symptoms are similar, and so are the causes. Experiment with levels of supplementation, but it makes sense to start on 400mg per day. If this is not helping after a week, speak to your doctor.
*LINKS*: How electrolyte supplements saved me from Heart Surgery: • HEART ARRHYTHMIA OR A-...
An Overview of Electrolytes - What They Are & What They Do: • ELECTROLYTES - What Th...
All you need to know about MAGNESIUM:
• MAGNESIUM - Arrhythmia...
ANDREW TUNSTALL is a Nutrition Coach, Teacher and Athlete who dodged Heart Surgery and a Hip Replacement by changing his lifestyle and eating habits before starting SHAPEFIXER to help others harness the power of knowledge to lose weight, improve health, fight disease and slow ageing.
DISCLAIMER: I am a Nutrition Coach and an Educator; I am not a medical doctor. All videos are for informational and motivational purposes only and are not to be taken as personalised medical diagnoses or advice. Speak to your own, trusted medical professional about all decisions you take regarding any aspects of your health or medical conditions - Andrew Tunstall.