Potassium is an essential nutritional element that is necessary for your normal cellular function. When your potassium levels become low, due to poor potassium nutrition or excessive fluid loss, you may develop a condition called hypokalemia. This condition is most commonly caused when you have gastrointestinal ailments that result in vomiting or diarrhea, and the potassium is eliminated from your body within those fluids. Excessive perspiration may also reduce your potassium levels. While hypokalemia most often results in mild to moderate side effects, you may be at risk for major complications if the condition is not properly corrected.
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Potassium is necessary for your muscle function and nerve conduction, so a significant decrease in potassium levels will interfere with these processes. Your heart is a large muscle, and the electrical impulses that control the rhythm of your heartbeat may become disrupted, causing irregular heartbeats called arrhythmia. You may experience heart palpitations that feel like your heart is missing or skipping beats or rapidly beating. Arrhythmia is typically diagnosed by an electrocardiogram, or ECG, which measures the electrical pulses of your hearts' contractions. Most often, arrhythmia caused by hypokalemia can be treated by addressing the underlying cause of potassium deficiency. In rare cases, arrhythmia may lead to cardiac arrest and even death.
Rhabdomyolysis
Hypokalemia may lead to a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which is the breakdown of muscle tissue resulting in the buildup of muscle proteins within your blood. These proteins may be further broken down into harmful substances that need to be filtered and excreted by your kidneys. If your case is severe, this may lead to death of your kidney tissue and possible kidney failure. Signs and symptoms you may experience from rhabdomyolysis include muscle tenderness or pain, weakness, fatigue, joint pain and red or dark urine. Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis is usually done with urine and blood tests that look for the presence of these muscle proteins. Treatment includes fluid and electrolyte replacement. The prognosis is usually good as long as your kidney damage is minimized.
Glucose Intolerance
Chronic hypokalemia may lead to glucose intolerance, a condition that could lead to type II diabetes mellitus. According to a report in a 2006 issue of "Hypertension," patients treated with diuretics for high blood pressure developed chronic hypokalemia that eventually led to a higher incidence of diabetes. The complications associated with diabetes include vascular disease, cataracts, glaucoma and stroke.
References
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Disorders of Potassium Concentration
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Arrhythmias and Conduction Disorders Introduction
- MedlinePlus: Rhabdomyolysis
- "Hypertension"; Thiazide Diuretics, Potassium, and the Development of Diabetes; Alan J. Zillich; June 2006
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