Potassium and sodium are both essential elements to your body's health. According to the Mayo Clinic, potassium helps maintain the normal functioning of your nerves and muscles, including your heart. Although potassium levels naturally fluctuate, symptoms can tip you off to low potassium levels before your situation becomes dire. Similarly, sodium is used throughout the body to regulate fluid levels in your cells, allowing them to function properly without shriveling up or bursting. Look for warning signs for when either of these nutrients are present in low levels.
Low Potassium Symptoms
Having low potassium levels can only be confirmed through a blood test administered by a health care professional.
Your blood potassium level should normally be 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Having a very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mEq/L) can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention. According to the Penn State College of Medicine, an individual with low potassium levels--a condition also called hypokalemia--may experience heartbeat irregularities, which may range from mild to severe. At extremely low levels, cardiac arrest and/or lung paralysis may occur, requiring immediate medical attention. You may experience weakness or cramping in the muscles, leg discomfort, intense thirst, disorientation or confusion, and the frequent need to urinate. Constipation may also result, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Low Sodium Symptoms
Low sodium levels are more likely to occur among adults as they get close to and beyond retirement age, but this problem--also called hyponatremia--may also occur in persons putting their body through intense physical contests requiring endurance, such as running a marathon. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of low sodium levels can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion and disorientation, fatigue and lethargy, loss of appetite, irritability, restlessness and muscle weakness or spasms. In extreme situations, seizures and a decreased consciousness, including coma, may result.
Medical Diagnosis
Both low potassium and low sodium levels are determined through blood tests administered by a doctor. Individuals with normal potassium levels in their bodies will have 3.5 to 5.0 milliequivalents of potassium in one liter of blood, according to the Penn State College of Medicine. Levels of less than 3.5 mEq/L are considered to be in the low range, where treatment is needed. While the Mayo Clinic does not provide exact figures defining low sodium levels, a doctor will order a blood test and possibly a urine test to determine how serious your low sodium levels are.
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