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Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause is excessive potassium loss in urine due to prescription medications that increase urination. Also known as water pills or diuretics, these types of medications are often prescribed for people who have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Hypokalemia means low blood potassium levels. Your body needs potassium to function correctly. It gets potassium through the food you eat. Hypokalemia is often caused by an excessive loss of potassium in your digestive tract due to vomiting, diarrhea or laxative use.
Common causes of low potassium include the use of diuretics, chronic diarrhea, and frequent vomiting. Insufficient intake, excessive losses, or transcellular shifts can all lead to low potassium levels.
What Causes Low Potassium? There are many reasons you could have low potassium levels. It can happen when too much potassium leaves your body through your digestive tract.
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.
INTRODUCTION. Hypokalemia is a common clinical problem. Potassium enters the body via oral intake or intravenous infusion, is largely stored in the cells, and then excreted in the urine.
A low potassium level has many causes but usually results from vomiting, diarrhea, adrenal gland disorders, or use of diuretics. A low potassium level can make muscles feel weak, cramp, twitch, or even become paralyzed, and abnormal heart rhythms may develop.