The human body needs potassium for normal functioning of the muscles, cells and nerves. When blood levels of potassium fall, serious problems such as abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrhythmia can occur. Muscular weakness and stomach disturbances such as constipation are also effects of low potassium in the body. Hypokalemia is a term used to describe low blood levels of potassium. It is caused by various factors such as medication, hormonal diseases and genetic diseases.
Hyperaldosteronism
Adrenal gland disorders can cause hypokalemia. Hyperaldosteronism is an adrenal disease that can cause this condition. In hyperaldosteronism, the adrenal glands over produce a hormone called aldosterone. This hormone stimulates the kidneys to remove more potassium and less sodium from the body -- under normal circumstances. Because of this, when the adrenal glands over produce aldosterone, the kidneys excrete more potassium than they normally do. This in turn leads to hypokalemia. Adrenal tumors can cause this disease. Enlarged adrenal glands can also lead to hyperaldosteronism.
Bartter's Syndrome
Bartter's syndrome is a genetic or congenital-- occurs at birth -- disorder characterized by high sodium and aldosterone levels. The Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia notes that Bartter's syndrome is thought to occur because the kidneys are unable to reabsorb sodium. In this syndrome, high amounts of sodium is lost through urine. As a result, aldosterone levels in the body go up. Aldosterone then stimulates the kidneys to excrete too much potassium from the body -- in its quest to retain sodium. Hypokalemia occurs in Bartter's syndrome because the excessive amounts of aldosterone in this disease make the kidneys remove excess potassium from the body.
Medications
Diuretics are a class of medications that remove water from the body through urine. Some types of diuretics such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, thiazide and loop diuretics can cause hypokalemia. This happens because, as they remove water from the body, potassium also leaves the body. Loss of too much potassium in this situation can cause hypokalemia.
Gastrointestinal Losses
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library explains that hypokalemia typically occurs due to loss of potassium from the digestive tract via vomiting and diarrhea
