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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Hospitalized in emergency at the beginning of the week at the American hospital in Neuilly, Laetitia Hallyday would suffer from hypokalaemia. What is that ? How to cure it ? The explanations of Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
That fans of Laetitia Hallyday be reassured: after a short stay at the American hospital in Neuilly at the beginning of the week, the current companion of Jalil Lespert is recovering slowly, at home in Marnes-la-Coquette. The reason for this passage to the hospital according to the magazine Closer : hypokalemia, a drop in blood potassium, for which Laetitia Hallyday was put on a drip.
What is hypokalemia?
Potassium is a vital ion present in the blood. “It can be measured by a blood test, called a ionogram and normal numbers are around 4 mmol/L blood potassium” explains Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo. Below 3.5 mmol/L of blood, we speak of hypokalemia. This can be moderate, severe or very severe.
What is hypokalemia caused by?
The balance of potassium in the blood is a balance between dietary intake and renal elimination of the ion. Mild hypokalemia can be well tolerated in a healthy person. “But if the drop is too great, symptoms such as muscle pain and severe fatigue can be felt. Moderate to severe hypokalemia can even have cardiac effects with arrhythmias” adds Dr. Kierzek.
There are different causes of hypokalemia:
- A diet low in potassium;
- An increase in the gastrointestinal or renal excretion of potassium, due to gastroenteritis or taking diuretics, for example;
- A transfer of potassium into the cell due to insulin intake, metabolic alkalosis, certain drugs such as beta-2 mimetics, etc.
Symptoms of severe hypokalaemia are muscle damage with tetraparesis (mild paralysis of the limbs), intestinal obstruction resulting from paralysis of the smooth muscle cells of the intestine and this can go as far as respiratory arrest.
What are the risks of hypokalemia?
“Severe hypokalaemia can be life-threatening” confirms Dr Gérald Kierzek. “In cases where the deficiency is profound, an infusion must be set up very quickly to compensate for the lack of potassium in the body. adds the specialist. Potassium can also be prescribed orally, in cases where the decrease is slight or to continue oral intake at home after an infusion.
What foods are high in potassium?
A varied and balanced diet allows the intake of vitamins, minerals and trace elements of all kinds. In the case of potassium, the foods that are rich in it are: beets, white beans, spinach, sweet potatoes and potatoes, bananas, grapefruit… The recommended daily intake for an adult is 3500 mg of potassium per day.