Being diagnosed with hyperkalemia or hypokalemia should compel you to make lifestyle adjustments that can help decrease or increase your potassium levels, respectively. Our second-to-last post in our potassium disorders series will focus on lifestyle recommendations that our providers at Florida Kidney Physicians (FKP) strongly recommend implementing.
This post will address the following topics related to hydration:
- The Role of Hydration
- Individualized Hydration Plans
- Choosing the Right Fluids
- Monitoring Fluid Intake
Next, we’ll highlight how exercise can promote your body’s potassium balance. We’ll share relevant information about:
- Understanding the Role of Exercise
- Consultation with Healthcare Providers
- Types of Exercise for Potassium Balance
- Balancing Exercise with Hydration
The latter half of this blog will offer other lifestyle recommendations that can help normalize your potassium levels. Those lifestyle recommendations include:
- Stress Management
- Balanced Nutrition
- Regular Health Check-ups
We’re always thrilled to welcome you back to our FKP Kidney Health blog, and we hope this post reinforces the message that a holistic approach that encompasses hydration, exercise, stress management, and balanced nutrition can contribute to the successful and ongoing management of your potassium disorder.
Thriving with Balance: Lifestyle Recommendations for Living with Potassium Disorders
After your doctor confirms that you have a potassium disorder—be it hyperkalemia (high potassium) or hypokalemia (low potassium)—you need to concentrate not only on the details surrounding your diagnosis but also all the changes you’ll likely be asked to make to your diet and lifestyle as part of your comprehensive treatment plan.
Our reputable physicians at Florida Kidney Physicians (FKP) can attest that living with potassium disorders requires implementing a holistic approach to your health: from eating well and staying hydrated to establishing an exercise plan and controlling your stress levels, you’ll need to focus on prioritizing your physical and mental well-being as you navigate this diagnosis. You may feel as if you have your work cut out for you, but the good news is that you can view your diagnosis not as an obstacle but as an opportunity. What do we mean by this? We mean that, starting as soon as this hour, you can make lifestyle choices and collaborate with FKP to foster a sense of well-being, work toward correcting your potassium imbalance, and proactively manage your kidney health.
Hydration and Kidney Health
Your kidneys work hard day in and day out. One of the biggest favors you can pay them? Supplying them with a consistent source of water throughout the day.
- The Role of Hydration
Staying hydrated is a fantastic way to support your kidney health. Adequate fluid intake helps your kidneys filter waste and maintain a proper balance of electrolytes, including potassium. Drink a glass of water, and then another, and then another. The more hydrated you are, the easier it will be for those hard-working kidneys of yours to carry out all their vital functions, such as filtering blood, regulating your electrolyte levels, producing urine, and more.
- Individualized Hydration Plans
You may have heard that you should aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. That’s a useful guideline, but our physicians at FKP want you to know that an individualized hydration plan will be incredibly beneficial to you. FKP works with patients to determine how much water they should drink per day based on factors such as overall health, climate, and the presence of any kidney-related conditions. Knowing how much water you should drink daily can help you set realistic, achievable water intake goals and then enjoy all the benefits that proper hydration provides.
- Choosing the Right Fluids
What’s the best fluid you can drink? Water, of course! It’s refreshing, free of calories, and capable of quenching your thirst. If you’re tempted to drink other types of beverages throughout the day, consider herbal teas and electrolyte-balanced drinks. Please try to minimize your consumption of sugary drinks; sugar doesn’t offer any nutritional value and it can even make you feel sluggish after that infamous “sugar high” eventually wears off.
- Monitoring Fluid Intake
All kidney patients should closely monitor their fluid intake. If you’ve been diagnosed with hyperkalemia or hypokalemia, it’s even more crucial to monitor your intake so you can strike a balance between adequate hydration and potassium intake. Why? Because you want to ensure that your body has the electrolytes it needs to function properly.
Exercise and Potassium Balance
When was the last time you took a walk around the block, went to the gym, or participated in a physical activity that made your heart pump a little faster and some beads of sweat form upon your forehead? Exercise is another crucial component of achieving and maintaining normal potassium levels.
- Understanding the Role of Exercise
A regular exercise routine will improve your overall health and assist you in your journey toward correcting a potassium imbalance. Potassium helps your body maintain a proper balance of electrolytes and plays a role in cellular function by guiding nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells. Physical activity stimulates the release of potassium from your cells, so when potassium in your body is properly utilized by way of your muscles, this allows your body to naturally regulate your potassium levels.
- Consultation with Healthcare Providers
An effective exercise regimen must take into account your health goals, fitness level, and personal interests. Perhaps, for instance, you enjoy swimming, dancing, or hiking, or maybe you prefer biking, walking, or yoga. Whatever your ideal exercise regimen entails, we kindly ask that you consult with your healthcare providers at FKP before you implement it. We’d like to give you personalized recommendations based on your health status so you can make the most out of your time spent exercising.
- Types of Exercise for Potassium Balance
All types of physical exercises stimulate the release of potassium from your cells, especially those that target various muscle groups throughout your body such as aerobic activities, strength training, and flexibility exercises. We encourage you to take a well-rounded approach to physical activity, and you can accomplish this by incorporating a variety of exercises into your routine. Perhaps one day you’ll lift weights, and another day you’ll play pickleball with a friend. The most sustainable exercise routine will be one that you find satisfying and enjoyable.
- Balancing Exercise with Hydration
When you exercise, you lose a lot of fluids through perspiration. You must replenish those fluids and electrolytes by staying hydrated. Be sure to carry a water bottle with you when you exercise so you can maintain proper fluid balance, especially if you are living with potassium disorders. Sweating serves as a tangible testament to your physical exertion, but you want to be mindful that you’re not losing too much potassium and maintaining an adequate balance of fluids, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with low potassium.
Additional Lifestyle Recommendations
We’d like to take this opportunity to share some other lifestyle recommendations brought to you by our friendly and knowledgeable team at FKP.
- Stress Management
Since stress can cause fluctuations in your potassium levels, it’s important to employ coping strategies and stress management techniques that work best for you. Some patients respond well to mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Others relax and unwind by reading, listening to music, watching TV, or calling a friend. There are many ways to manage your stress and promote your overall well-being, but if you need support and resources, look no further than FKP; we are always here to help!
- Balanced Nutrition
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with hyperkalemia or hypokalemia, eating a balanced diet will be a key component to managing and monitoring your potassium levels. Collaborate with your doctor or a registered dietitian to establish an individualized meal plan that aligns with your dietary preferences and any restrictions you have so you can be cognizant of your potassium intake. Decreasing or increasing your potassium requires dedication and patience.
- Regular Health Check-ups
Regular check-ups allow you to share pertinent updates about your health with your doctor. Your doctor can order blood tests with the intention of assessing your current potassium levels and determining if your treatment plan is serving you well, or if changes need to be made. Regular monitoring ensures optimal potassium management. On that note, patients at FKP appreciate how much time, thought, and effort our physicians put into making sure that you feel supported and understood as you continue along your path toward normalizing your potassium levels and safeguarding your kidney health.
Embracing a Holistic Approach to Well-Being
A blog series about living with potassium disorders wouldn’t be complete without a post that focuses on lifestyle recommendations! To review, we shared why you should stay hydrated, establish an exercise regimen, manage your stress, eat a healthy and well-balanced diet, and schedule regular check-ups with your doctor.
All these lifestyle adjustments can make a big difference in your overall health as well as in your potassium level measurements. By actively engaging in your potassium disorder treatment plan and closely collaborating with your healthcare team at FKP, you can correct your potassium imbalance and protect your kidneys from sustaining damage. All your time and efforts will be well spent, especially when you see your potassium levels return to the range that’s considered normal for you.
Up next: the final blog post in our potassium disorders series! Thank you for being here, and be sure to share the FKP Kidney Health blog with a friend, family member, or neighbor who could also benefit from reading all the detailed blog posts we publish.