Bodily Symptoms Of Low Potassium

Bodily Symptoms of Low Potassium

Oct 6, 2010 | By Emily Creasy

Hypokalemia, or low potassium, occurs when there is not enough potassium in the blood. Normal blood potassium levels range from 3.5 to 5.3 mEq/L. Your kidneys work to maintain potassium balance in the body. This balance is necessary for cells, nerves and muscles to work properly. While there is no recommended daily allowance, or RDA, for potassium, it is widely available in foods and deficiencies are rare. Hypokalemia results from an electrolyte imbalance and can be caused by excessive diarrhea, vomiting and sweating, diuretic use, eating disorders and kidney failure. Symptoms can be mild to severe and should be discussed with a doctor.

Mild Deficiency Symptoms

According to MedlinePlus, a mild drop in potassium levels generally does not produce symptoms. MayoClinic.com states that a mild deficiency is usually detected by a blood test performed by a physician.

Moderate deficiency symptoms

Moderate symptoms of deficiency can easily go unnoticed due to their seemingly common nature. It is very easy to attribute feelings of weakness and fatigue to a hard day of work or increased daily stress. MedlinePlus as well as the Penn State College of Medicine report that symptoms of moderate potassium deficiency include weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, constipation, changes in heartbeat, excessive thirst, frequent urination and slight confusion. If a person experiences these symptoms for greater than two to three days, he should contact a doctor.

Severe Deficiency Symptoms

Severely low potassium levels below 2.5 mEq/L can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention, according to MayoClinic.com. Because of its effect on muscle and nerve functioning, severely low levels of potassium can greatly affect the heart, lungs and nervous system. If moderate symptoms go untreated and potassium levels remain low, muscle weakness and fatigue can worsen to cardiac arrest, kidney damage and paralysis. This paralysis can occur in the arms, legs and even in the lungs and requires immediate medical attention. Dietitians Anne Grant and Susan DeHoog state that levels less than 3.0 mEq/L require clinical attention and treatment.