Monitoring Potassium In The Elderly
That people need adequate nutrients for good health is a fact. It is not difficult to get the nutrients that a body needs. A person will be physically fit as long as he observe good eating habits and eat the right kind of food. On the other hand, vitamin and mineral deficiency can result from drug intake, the genes and advancing age. Potassium is one such mineral that the elderly or those individuals who care for them should be aware. Potassium is a mineral that, in combination with sodium and calcium, maintains normal heart rhythm, regulates the body's water balance, and is responsible for the conduction of nerve impulses and the contraction of muscles.
Potassium is an invaluable mineral for the body ᾢ it regulates heart rhythm in conjunction with sodium and calcium, and is responsible or contributes to transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contraction. Normally, the average person has about 5 ounces (140 g) of potassium in his body. A normally functioning kidney is responsible for the controlling blood levels of the mineral potassium. Potassium deficiency is rare because almost all foods contain potassium.
It is a rare case therefore for an individual to suffer from lack of this potassium mineral. The problem of potassium deficiency however does occur among the seniors. As a person grows older, his organs become less efficient thereby affecting the ability of the body to get and process his normal mineral requirements. This results in the system not being able to absorb and regulate the amount of potassium in the body.
Since potassium sources are so abundant, for most people potassium deficiency is not a concern. Exceptions would be the older persons who are may suffer from lack of potassium. This can be attributed to the deterioration in the efficiency of the body organs to function, e.g., the kidney, due to the advancing years. The effect is an inefficient control and regulation of the potassium absorption of the body.
detect potassium deficiency a doctor tests the patient's blood levels for the presence of potassium. If less than 5.6 grams of potassium are present the individual is determined to have a potassium deficiency.
Potassium is an invaluable mineral for the body ᾢ it regulates heart rhythm in conjunction with sodium and calcium, and is responsible or contributes to transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contraction. Normally, the average person has about 5 ounces (140 g) of potassium in his body. A normally functioning kidney is responsible for the controlling blood levels of the mineral potassium. Potassium deficiency is rare because almost all foods contain potassium.
It is a rare case therefore for an individual to suffer from lack of this potassium mineral. The problem of potassium deficiency however does occur among the seniors. As a person grows older, his organs become less efficient thereby affecting the ability of the body to get and process his normal mineral requirements. This results in the system not being able to absorb and regulate the amount of potassium in the body.
Since potassium sources are so abundant, for most people potassium deficiency is not a concern. Exceptions would be the older persons who are may suffer from lack of potassium. This can be attributed to the deterioration in the efficiency of the body organs to function, e.g., the kidney, due to the advancing years. The effect is an inefficient control and regulation of the potassium absorption of the body.
detect potassium deficiency a doctor tests the patient's blood levels for the presence of potassium. If less than 5.6 grams of potassium are present the individual is determined to have a potassium deficiency.
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