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Hypokalemia is often caused by an excessive loss of potassium in your digestive tract due to vomiting, diarrhea or laxative use. Other causes include certain medications and some adrenal and genetic conditions.
There are many reasons you could have low potassium levels. It can happen when too much potassium leaves your body through your digestive tract. Or, it could be a symptom of another problem.
Low potassium levels can cause symptoms like fatigue and frequent urination. Increasing your intake of potassium-rich foods, like fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, may help.
Normally, your blood potassium level is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of hypokalemia vary depending on the severity and underlying cause but may include muscle weakness, fatigue, cramping, palpitations, and constipation. Severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening complications, such as fatal arrhythmias or respiratory muscle paralysis. Hypokalemia must be addressed promptly to prevent complications.
Hypokalemia refers to a low level of potassium in the blood. Hypokalemia symptoms may include cramping and weakness or heart and breathing problems. There may also be no symptoms. Hypokalemia is treatable, but people with heart problems are at risk of death.
Many conditions and medications may cause low potassium, usually due to the body excreting too much potassium from your gastrointestinal tract or kidneys or causing a transcellular shift. If you are experiencing symptoms of low potassium, seek medical care so a provider can test your blood levels.
The effects of low potassium include may cause heart palpitations, muscle cramps, muscle aches, and muscle weakness. Potassium enters the body through diet and is one of the primary electrolytes (crucial chemicals for cell function) and is concentrated within the cells of the body.
Most people will never experience potassium levels that low, but some people face a higher risk than others of developing low potassium (hypokalemia). Learn what to do if you suspect low potassium levels are causing symptoms.
constipation. muscle cramping. palpitations. Levels below 3.6 are considered low, and anything below 2.5 mmol/L is life-threateningly low, according to the Mayo Clinic. At these levels,...