How to Understand the Effects of Low Potassium on the Body

Potassium is the most abundant electrolyte contained in our intracellular fluid and is involved in regulating the neuromuscular activity of the skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potassium-rich Foods

1. Be prepared to experience muscle weakness, when your potassium is low. This is because decreased electrolytes result in muscular malfunction.

2. Consider that you may have irregularities in your heart's rhythm, if your potassium drops below 3.5 mEq/liter. Severe hypokalemia (low potassium) causes the heart to contract prematurely.

3. Realize you may experience muscle twitchings due to low potassium.

4. Know that you might have an increase in urination and thirst, because hypokalemia causes an inability for the kidneys to concentrate urine.

5. Understand that low potassium can result in fatigue, anorexia and decreased bowel motility. If your bowel motility becomes too sluggish, you may have symptoms of a paralytic ileus, which means that your intestines become somewhat paralized due to a decrease in your peristalsis.

6. Consider that low potassium can cause leg and abdominal cramps because of muscle malfunctions.

7. Accept that low potassium, left untreated, can lead to respiratory arrest because the muscles that aid in breathing become weak.

Tips & Warnings

• Electrolytes break up into atomic particles and conduct an electric current. This current transmits nerve impulses and causes muscles to contract.
• If you have any type of heart disease, or are taking digitalis or diuretics, be sure you allow your doctor to regularly monitor your potassium levels.
• 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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[jandavidson]

on 8/1/2008 I take diuretics and have always accompanied it with prescription potassium. However, we just found out that my potassium is very low. I am suppose to have an outpatient procedure on Monday so they had me double up on the potassium and checked it again today (Friday). It was 2.6. Now they want to admit me in the hospital on Sunday and give me potassium for 24 hours via IV's. If they can't get it up then my procedure will be postponed.

I noticed that my mouth gets really dry a lot and I have some muscle cramps at night but didn't think anything about it being the potassium since I was taking it. I am sure they will increase my dosage after this weekend.

[pam5929]

on 2/3/2008 My doctor prescribed spironolactone for my low potassium is this drug safe to take?

on 9/24/2006 Little did I know that licorice root found in true licorice candy (love the English brands) can deplete your body of potassium. Eating licorice followed in a few days by the flu with vomiting and diarrhea caused me to be rushed to the hospital as I was having trouble breathing. My potassium level was 2.9--the doctor said I was one beat away from cardiac arrest!

on 12/27/2007 I know potassium is of great importance. I had two surgeries, and the thing my caregivers were the most worried about was my potassium bottoming out. If you get way too much, it can cause a heart attack. If you don't get enough, it can cause you to slip into a coma, or worse.

I am now taking 80mg a day total now. Hopefully, it will even out. I have blood work every three weeks now that I'm home. In the hospital I had IVs of it.

on 6/30/2006 I have anorexia and bulimia, and was unaware of my super-low potassium. However, I noticed once my lungs stopped working correctly and I couldn't breathe properly. I kept gulping air, and I could never get enough.
Plenty of orange-juice, bananas, and supplements. That's the way to go.