Potassium is an essential mineral for the body. It is crucial for normal organ, tissue and cell function. It is an electrolyte, along with magnesium, sodium, calcium and chloride. Electrolytes conduct electricity in the body. Potassium is necessary for muscle contraction, normal digestion and heart function. According to the Mayo Clinic website, a normal blood potassium level is 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents, or mEg/L, per liter. A blood potassium level below 2.5 mEq/L can be potentially fatal. If you have lower than average potassium in your blood, the condition is known as hypokalemia.
Causes
Some antibiotics such as gentamicin, carbenicillin and amphotericin B can cause low potassium levels, as can diuretics, which increase urination. Malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting, bulimia and sweating can deplete the body of potassium. Diseases such as Cushing syndrome, Bartter syndrome and hyperaldosteronism impair the kidney's ability to retain potassium and can cause hypokalemia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of low blood potassium include fatigue, constipation, abnormal heart rhythm, muscle weakness or paralysis. Low potassium is usually detected during a routine blood test.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may perform an arterial blood gas test, electrocardiogram, blood urea nitrogen or BUN test, creatinine test and other blood tests to check glucose, sodium, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, thyroxin and aldosterone levels.
Treatment
Treatment includes taking potassium supplements for mild hypokalemia and administering potassium intravenously for severe hypokalemia. If the hypokalemia is caused by an overactive thyroid, your treatment will focus on lowering thyroid hormone levels--with medication or surgery--and raise potassium levels. If you are taking loop diuretics, medication that reduces fluid in your body, you may be losing potassium from the increased urination associated with these types of drugs. Your doctor can substitute other diuretics that will keep potassium in the body.
Complications
Prolonged severe hypokalemia can cause a dangerously irregular heartbeat, kidney damage and life-threatening paralysis.
Prevention
To help prevent hypokalemia, eat a healthy diet that includes potassium-rich foods such as salmon, flounder, cod, legumes, bananas, Brussel sprouts, granola, peanut butter, bran and milk. Talk with your doctor before taking potassium supplements so you don't wind up getting too much potassium. Older people are at a higher risk for low blood potassium because the kidneys eliminate potassium less efficiently as we age. If you are an older person, consult your doctor before taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. If you also have heart disease or high blood pressure, check with your doctor before taking ACE inhibitors such as benazepril, enalapril or fosinopril. ACE inhibitors and NSAIDs can affect potassium levels.
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