The Use of Potassium Chloride and Saline Solution

Potassium chloride (KCl) is a chemical compound that resembles the common table salt but in reality is an odorless and colorless metal halide salt. Potassium is formed naturally as Sylvite but needs to be extracted from Sylvinite ore. However it can also be artificially manufactured by crystallization of salt water solution. While, a saline solution is a solution of Sodium chloride and sterile water and the normal saline solution is 9% Sodium chloride. Both Potassium Chloride and Saline solution are administered intravenously in their diluted form and are also beneficial for other medicinal purposes.

Uses of Potassium Chloride
Potassium chloride has a variety of uses, the most important being one of the main ingredients in making fertilizer as it is essential for the growth of specific plants. Potassium chloride is also used as an ingredient in medicines, for scientific applications, food preservative and also as a substitute for table salt. Potassium is essential for human body and the easiest way to replenish the body of Potassium Chloride is by taking it orally. Medically potassium chloride is used in the treatment of Hyperkalemia and also injected intravenously in the treatment of Potassium deficiency but only after being diluted and this is usually done when oral replacement is not feasible. Potassium is chief citation of human body cells and maintains the body fluid composition and electrolyte balance. While potassium in essential in carbohydrate synthesizing and is also important for nerve and muscle contraction

Warnings
Some uses mentioned above are common everyday, beneficial uses of potassium chloride. But what most people do not know is that if misused, potassium chloride can also become life threatening. For this reason it is also used as intravenous injections in judicial execution. Other lethal injections are with the medical fraternity that uses potassium chloride in fetal intra cardiac injections inducing abortions in pregnant women in their second and third trimester.

Medicinal Use of Saline Solution:
The normal saline solution is commonly used in patients suffering from dehydration through an intravenous IV drip especially the people who fail to consume foods and nutrients by mouth. Normal saline is also diluted with glucose to reduce the complications that may develop due to infusion of saline solution so that it can reduce the concentration of sodium circulating in the blood. It is also used in intravenous injections as it is a non proyegnic solution for fluids and electrolytes replenishments for intravenous administration.

Benefits
Saline solutions are also beneficial for rinsing and safe storing of contact lenses as well as nasal drops in patients suffering from sinus problems. Saline solution acts as a moisturizer for dryness, itching and crusting in the nose. Warm saline solutions can be used to pulsate irrigation of the nasal passage as it helps to bring more circulation to the area and is also is void of any anti microbial agents.