Benefits Of Potassium

Potassium is a major electrolyte that helps the body maintain fluid balance and action potentials. It does this by moving in and out of the body’s cells with the help of the sodium-potassium pump, an active transport system than moves potassium against its concentration gradient. This is what gives cells their membrane potential. In acidosis, there is a high concentration of hydrogen ions in the extracellular fluid, this promotes an influx of Hydrogen ions into the cells. As the electro positive Hydrogen ion moves into the cell, Potassium (K+) moves out of the cell to maintain the membrane potential balance. This efflux of Potassium results in hypokalemia and can cause many complications. Many cardiac irregularities are seen with acute or chronic
potassium deficiencies. Many of which involve irregular action potentials. When looking at and ECG graph Hypokalemia can prolong the PR interval, depress the ST interval and create a prominent U wave. These abnormal patterns creates arrhythmic heart beats. The cardiac muscles cannot repolarize properly before the next signal. The cells are often hyperpolarized which results in weak action potentials.
In alkalosis, there is an extremely low concentration of H+ ions in the extra cellular fluids. Hydrogen ions shift out of the cell necessitating potassium to shift into the cell to maintain the membrane potential. The influx of potassium causes hyperkalemia on a cellular level and can result in some cardiac disturbances. With the increased presence of potassium, a hyperkalemic cell is an easily excitable one, it is hypopolarized. The cells easily meet threshold potential and set off and action potential, and in some cases cannot repolarize. This causes paralysis. Arrhythmias can also occur due to the excitability of the cardiac cells. The ECG graph would show a widened P wave, with a decreased amplitude of the R wave, the QRS complex is widened, and the T wave is abnormally tall. This electrocardiogram readings differ vastly from the normal ECG.