A Western diet is likely to blame, as it favors processed foods over whole plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts 1. That said, a low-potassium diet is rarely the cause of potassium deficiency, or hypokalemia. Deficiency is characterized by a blood potassium level below 3. Instead, it occurs when your body suddenly loses a lot of fluid. Common causes include chronic vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating and blood loss 3.
First, potassium helps regulate muscle contractions. When blood potassium levels are low, your muscles produce weaker contractions 4. For example, some evidence shows that a deficiency could impair insulin production, resulting in high blood sugar levels 5. Summary Since potassium helps regulate muscle contractions, deficiency may result in weaker contractions. They can occur when potassium levels are low in the blood 6. Within muscle cells, potassium helps relay signals from the brain that stimulate contractions.
It also helps end these contractions by moving out of the muscle cells 7. When blood potassium levels are low, your brain cannot relay these signals as effectively.
This results in more prolonged contractions, such as muscle cramps. Summary Potassium helps start and stop muscle contractions. Low blood potassium levels can affect this balance, causing uncontrolled and prolonged contractions known as cramps. Potassium helps relay signals from the brain to muscles located in the digestive system. These signals stimulate contractions that help the digestive system churn and propel food so it can be digested 8.
Thus, contractions in the digestive system may become weaker and slow the movement of food. This may cause digestive problems like bloating and constipation 9 , Additionally, some studies have suggested that a severe deficiency may cause the gut to become completely paralyzed However, other studies found that the link between potassium deficiency and a paralyzed gut is not completely clear Summary Potassium deficiency may cause problems like bloating and constipation because it can slow the movement of food through the digestive system.
This feeling is known as a heart palpitation and is commonly linked to stress or anxiety. However, heart palpitations can also be a sign of potassium deficiency This is because the flow of potassium in and out of heart cells helps regulate your heartbeat. Low blood potassium levels can alter this flow, resulting in heart palpitations In addition, heart palpitations may be a sign of arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, which is also linked to potassium deficiency.
Unlike palpitations, arrhythmia has been linked to serious heart conditions 14 , Summary Potassium helps regulate the heartbeat, and low levels may cause symptoms like heart palpitations.
These palpitations may also be a symptom of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which may be a sign of a serious heart condition. Muscle aches and stiffness can also be a sign of a severe potassium deficiency Blood levels of potassium help regulate blood flow to your muscles.
When levels are severely low, your blood vessels can contract and restrict blood flow to your muscles This means muscle cells receive less oxygen, which may cause them to rupture and leak. This results in rhabdomyolysis, which is accompanied by symptoms like muscle stiffness and aches Summary Muscle aches and stiffness can be another sign of potassium deficiency and are caused by rapid muscle breakdown rhabdomyolysis.
Usually, it is detected when you are having blood work done because you have symptoms of another illness, such as an adrenal disorder, or when you have routine lab work done, which is often necessary if you take a diuretic.
Many people do not experience any symptoms of hypokalemia until it is severe, and the amount of potassium has dropped below 3. People with moderate potassium deficiency might experience:. Low potassium is not an illness in itself, but rather is a symptom of an underlying condition or disease. When low potassium is detected, your doctor might suggest additional testing to determine the cause. Further blood tests might check for glucose, magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, thyroid hormones, and aldosterone.
Your doctor might also order an electrocardiogram EKG to check the electrical activity in your heart. There are four primary goals when treating low potassium levels:. It is also essential to treat the underlying medical conditions or eliminate the cause.
For example, if the overuse of laxatives causes hypokalemia, then addressing the physical or psychological need for laxatives should be part of the treatment plan. If a patient needs a diuretic, their doctor might discuss substitutions that allow potassium to remain in the body potassium-sparing diuretic or might prescribe daily potassium supplements. For people with extremely low potassium, a doctor might recommend intravenous treatment.
While potassium is a nutrient we get from food, diet alone rarely causes hypokalemia. There are several possible causes of hypokalemia and certain populations who have an increased risk of deficiency. These include:. Certain medications can also cause low potassium levels, including:. The diagnosis is made by measuring a low potassium level in the blood. Doctors then try to identify what is causing the potassium level to decrease. If the cause is not clear, doctors measure how much potassium is excreted in urine to determine whether excess excretion is the cause.
This record, the electrocardiogram also known as an ECG Usually, potassium can be replaced by taking potassium supplements by mouth. Because potassium can irritate the digestive tract, supplements should be taken in small doses with food several times a day rather than in a single large dose. Special types of potassium supplements, such as wax-impregnated or microencapsulated potassium chloride , are much less likely to irritate the digestive tract.
To treat hypokalemia more rapidly, potassium is given by vein intravenously in the following situations:. Most people who take diuretics do not need to take potassium supplements.
Nevertheless, doctors periodically check the potassium level in blood so that supplements can be given if necessary. Alternatively, diuretics that help the kidneys conserve potassium potassium-sparing diuretics , such as amiloride , eplerenone , spironolactone , or triamterene can be used, but these drugs are used only if the kidneys are functioning normally.
When hypomagnesemia Hypomagnesemia Low Level of Magnesium in the Blood In hypomagnesemia, the level of magnesium in blood is too low. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge.
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