Prevention of Paralysis Attacks with Potassium Supplementation, Additional Fluid and Carbohydrate-Potassium Rich Workout Meals in a Male Patient with Familial Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis Living a Strenuous Physically Active Lifestyle:A Case Report

The rare neurological disorder of familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP) causes intermittent muscle paralysis that might lead to hospitalization <br/>with acute intensive care and sudden cardiac arrest. Reported lifestyle triggers include carbohydrate rich meals and hard physical activity, and may include salt <br/>intake, over-eating, alcohol consumption, dehydration, and rest after exercise. However, effective lifestyle treatments are lacking in the scientific literature and <br/>current knowledge rely on expert opinions, case-reports, and retrospective case studies. To our knowledge, this is the first case-report to describe modifications <br/>of lifestyle with positive impact on prevention of paralytic attacks despite strenuous physical activity. The case has prevented paralytic attacks by securing <br/>regular meals, a diet low in carbohydrate and high in potassium, avoiding fast-food, securing large fluid intake, and a less stressful every-day life. To prevent <br/>paralytic attacks in relation to strenuous physical activity, the patient uses oral potassium chloride supplements, pre-workout carbohydrate rich meal, followed <br/>by a post-workout potassium rich protein shake and an additional 2 L water.