Hypokalemia in the ''beautiful people''

Article Abstract:

Hypokalemia is a condition of abnormally low amounts of potassium within the blood and often occurs in young women who are concerned with body image. It may result from vomiting or abuse of laxatives and diuretics, which increase the elimination of water from the body. A case is described of a 29-year-old woman without symptoms of disease and taking no medications, who was shown to have hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis, or elevated blood levels of bicarbonate. The woman ran 6 to 10 kilometers per day and was on a low-salt, low-protein diet that was high in vegetables. She weighed 53 kilograms (117 lbs.) and was 160 centimeters (5'1'') tall, and was concerned about her body image. Although her blood pressure and heart rate were normal, the subject was shown to have low blood potassium and increased bicarbonate levels in the blood. The possible causes of hypokalemia in this patient were assessed by measuring levels of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride in the blood and urine. Although her electrolyte levels indicated that hypokalemia may have resulted from vomiting rather than laxative or diuretic abuse, the subject denied that she experienced frequent vomiting. Closer examination of the laboratory findings indicated that the changes in the electrolyte levels normally associated with vomiting may have resulted in this case from loss of salt in sweat during running and increased sodium bicarbonate levels associated with a low-protein, high alkaline ash diet. Thus these two conditions of fitness and diet may comprise a new category for the diagnosis of hypokalemia. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Evaluation, Causes of, Physiological aspects, Physical fitness, Diet, Diet in disease, Alkalosis, Water-electrolyte imbalances, Fluid-electrolyte imbalance, Hypokalemia

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A handshake and a passing

Article Abstract:

Walter Herdeg's recent death marked the end of a lifetime of achievement in the typographical and graphic design professions. He co-founded Graphis magazine in 1944, and brought many international designers into its pages for presentation to a similarly global audience. Herdeg also designed numerous logos for European companies and a typographical font.

Biography, Herdeg, Walter

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Survey says

Article Abstract:

A humorous approach to telephone surveys about various events is presented. Issues such as the Miss America swimsuit competition, Pres Bill Clinton's jogging shorts, and various celebrities' lifestyles are ridiculed.

Humor and anecdotes, Popular culture, Life style, Lifestyles, Telephone surveys

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