How to Understand What Causes Low Potassium

Ninety-eight percent of the body's potassium is contained inside the cells. Potassium is an electrolyte, and it effects skeletal and cardiac function. Low levels of circulating potassium can result in serious health problems. Here are a few steps to help you understand the causes of low potassium.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Realize that excessive vomiting and diarrhea can cause low potassium, called hypokalemia, because large amounts of potassium are contained in gastric fluids.

2. Consider that too much insulin secretion can cause hypokalemia because insulin promotes potassium to enter skeletal muscle cells.

3. Understand that alcoholics, and the debilitated elderly, and people with unhealthy diets are prone to hypokalemia because of poor nutrition, resulting in increased potassium loss due to illness.

4. Know that taking diuretics, which are drugs that increase your urination, often cause hypokalemia because of renal potassium being depleted. Furosemide, the thiazides and ethacrynic acid are known as "potassium-losing diuretics."

5. Be aware that adrenal tumors, congestive heart failure and hypertension predispose a person to hypokalemia because renal potassium stores can be depleted by these conditions.

6. Understand that anorexics and bulemics often suffer with hypokalemia because potassium is lost through self-inflicted vomiting, laxative and diuretic abuse.

7. Be aware that chemotherapy can cause hypokalemia.

Tips & Warnings

• Eighty percent of your body's potassium is excreted via your kidneys. Twenty percent is lost through bowel movements and perspiration.
• Severe hypokalemia may cause severe muscle weakness, which can lead to respiratory failure.
• Normal blood potassium level is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/liter.
• If you have a heart condition of any sort, or are on digitalis, maintain a proper potassium level to guard against developing an irregular heart rate.
• If you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[streetcleaner]

on 10/6/2008 I'm still finding out information on my condition (low potassium/hbp). Has anyone ever experienced twitching in the muscles near the head/face when their potassium is running low?

[teespencer]

on 9/5/2008 hello im new to this site i have very low potassuim levels for the last couple of months my levels are anythink between 1.6 and 3.4 at the moment they are 2.2 from my blood result today and i have high red blood cell count aswell!!! iam suffering from malnutrition due to severe gastric reflux diease i have a stomach tube because sometimes iam unable to tolerate food because of the acid reflux!!
iam taking a potassuim supplement called sando-k 3 4 times aday where i flush it down my stomach tube!!!
after seeing my consultant today he says my potassuim is due to malnutrition my body doesnt absorb potassuim properly because of it!!!
iam constantaly weeing all the time up to 30 times aday only little bits but enough to deprive me of absorbing potassuim!!!
i have had 2 fundoplications operations which were unsuccessful!!
just wondering if anybody has any ideas of increasing my potassuim

[Princess78]

on 2/29/2008 my last blood test showed my potassium level was low 3. something the doctor said he wants it at 4.something show i be worried because the doctor didn't seem to worried just told me to eat more banana's and potatoes with the skin on them i have diabetes (well actually when i took the diabetes test my levels went high but it never goes high it stays normal but i do have hypoglycemia more then i do the diabetes and i also have high blood pressure before my potassium levels been low i was having something wrong with my liver enzymes and my doctor didn't seem to worried about that either mind you i'm only 29 years old and have high blood pressure since i was 17 or 18 and the diabetes about 5 years now, i have no health insurance so i go to the local health department, should i be worried that my doctor doesn't seem to be worried with my health problems???

[Princess78]

on 2/29/2008 my last blood test showed my potassium level was low 3. something the doctor said he wants it at 4.something show i be worried because the doctor didn't seem to worried just told me to eat more banana's and potatoes with the skin on them i have diabetes (well actually when i took the diabetes test my levels went high but it never goes high it stays normal but i do have hypoglycemia more then i do the diabetes and i also have high blood pressure before my potassium levels been low i was having something wrong with my liver enzymes and my doctor didn't seem to worried about that either mind you i'm only 29 years old and have high blood pressure since i was 17 or 18 and the diabetes about 5 years now, i have no health insurance so i go to the local health department, should i be worried that my doctor doesn't seem to be worried with my health problems???

[Princess78]

on 2/29/2008 my last blood test showed my potassium level was low 3. something the doctor said he wants it at 4.something show i be worried because the doctor didn't seem to worried just told me to eat more banana's and potatoes with the skin on them i have diabetes (well actually when i took the diabetes test my levels went high but it never goes high it stays normal but i do have hypoglycemia more then i do the diabetes and i also have high blood pressure before my potassium levels been low i was having something wrong with my liver enzymes and my doctor didn't seem to worried about that either mind you i'm only 29 years old and have high blood pressure since i was 17 or 18 and the diabetes about 5 years now, i have no health insurance so i go to the local health department, should i be worried that my doctor doesn't seem to be worried with my health problems???