How Potassium Affect The Health Of People In Their Senior Years
Having sufficient nutrients in the body is a general goal for everyone. It is not difficult to get the nutrients that a body needs. Food contains vitamins and minerals and a balanced diet will provide the normal body requirement. On the other hand, vitamin and mineral deficiency can result from drug intake, the genes and advancing age. In the case of the aged, the mineral potassium is one of the things that should be monitored closely.
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. Ideally, there should be an equivalent of 5 ounces (140 g) of potassium in a person of average size. 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. Potassium is more abundant in lean meat, whole grains, green leafy vegetables and several fruits especially bananas and oranges. Regular ingestion of these foods will provide all the potassium that the body needs.
It is a rare case therefore for an individual to suffer from lack of this potassium mineral. Exceptions would be the older persons who are may suffer from lack of potassium. 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.
The older a person gets, the less effective will be the medical prescriptions for his high blood pressure. The possible consequence will be complications like diabetes and illnesses related to the heart. The physician may recommend potassium supplements to go along with the traditional treatment of high blood pressure for the elderly.
The main symptoms of potassium deficiency are irregular heart rate, gastrointestinal problems, muscle weakness and abnormal skin sensations, such as numbness. To detect potassium deficiency a doctor tests the patient’s blood levels for the presence of potassium. There is potassium deficiency if there is less than 5.6 grams of potassium in the person.
Join HRU for programs that focus on er nurse training and nurse leadership and management. An HRU seminar is a great educational investment for your nursing staff.
See Also:
Tags: elder care, Family, Home, Senior Health