What is Periodic Paralysis?
Periodic Paralysis is a
little known, misunderstood, under recognized and difficult to diagnose mineral
metabolic disorder, also known as an ion channelopathy.
Do you have any of the
following symptoms or a combination of them?
- Episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis in an arm or
leg or the entire body?
- Wake up and cannot move?
- Racing or erratic heart beat?
- Fluctuating blood pressure?
- Difficulty breathing at times?
- Potassium levels too low or too high?
- Strange or opposite side effects from medications?
- Medications make your symptoms worse?
- Difficulty with anesthesia?
- Medical testing always negative?
- Doctors cannot figure out what is wrong?
You may have Periodic
Paralysis!
On a cellular level, triggered by things such as sleep,
exercise, sugar, salt, most medications, stress, cold, heat, anesthesia,
adrenaline, IV’s and much more, potassium wrongly enters the muscles either
temporarily weakening or paralyzing the individual. Episodes can be full body
lasting hours or days. Dangerous heart arrhythmia, heart rate fluctuation,
blood pressure fluctuation, choking, breathing difficulties, cardiac arrest
and/or respiratory arrest can also accompany the episodes. Due to these
complications, it is extremely important to avoid the episodes. Gradual,
progressive, muscular weakness can also affect the individual with this
condition.
There are several forms of
Periodic Paralysis:
Hypokalemic
Periodic Paralysis
Paralysis results from potassium moving from the blood into
muscle cells in an abnormal way. It is associated with low levels of potassium
in the blood (hypokalemia) during paralytic episodes.
Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis
Paralysis results from problems with the way the body controls sodium
and potassium levels in cells. It is associated with high levels of potassium
in the blood (hyperkalemia) during paralytic episodes.
Andersen-Tawil
Syndrome (ATS)
Paralysis results when the channel does not open
properly; potassium cannot leave the cell. This disrupts the flow of potassium
ions in skeletal and cardiac muscle. During paralytic episodes, ATS can be
associated with low potassium, high potassium or shifts within the normal
(normokalemia) ranges of potassium. An arrhythmia, long Qt interval heartbeat,
is associated with ATS as well as certain characteristics, such as webbed or
partially webbed toes, crooked little fingers and dental anomalies.
Normokalemic Periodic Paralysis (NormoPP)
Paralysis results when potassium shifts within in normal ranges.
This can happen in any form of
Periodic Paralysis. The paralysis may result from the shifting itself, rather
than low or high potassium or it may occur due to the shifting of the
potassium, which can happen very quickly and is undetectable in lab testing.
Paramyotonia Congenita (PMC)
The skeletal muscles can become
stiff, tight, tense or contracted and weak due when the sodium channels close
much too slowly and the sodium, potassium, chloride and water continue to flow
into the muscles. It is actually considered to be a form of Hyperkalemic
Periodic Paralysis, however, the symptoms can appear
from shifting of potassium into low or high ranges or even if potassium shifts
within normal levels.
Thyrotoxic
Periodic Paralysis (TPP)
Intermittent paralysis results from low potassium due to
an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. It can occur spontaneously or can
result from a genetic mutation. Unlike the other forms of Periodic Paralysis,
TPP can be treated and cured by removing or treating the thyroid.
Diagnosing:
Diagnosing for Periodic Paralysis takes an average of 20
years! This is due to the fact that all other conditions must be ruled out.
Some of the known types of Periodic Paralysis have identified genetic markers.
This means they can be diagnosed by DNA testing. But, many mutations have not
been found yet so individuals with Periodic Paralysis need to be diagnosed
based on the symptoms and characteristics.
Treatment:
There are no known cures, but the symptoms can be managed
for most individuals using natural methods including diet changes and
eliminating the triggers.
Please join us or
contact us at the Periodic Paralysis Network
for more
information.
We provide HOPE to
individuals with Periodic Paralysis through:
*Awareness
*Support…
*Education
*Advocacy
For more information please contact us at:
PPNI Blog:
PPNI Books:
PPNI Support Group:
