Potassium is an element that is essential for the body's maintenance, production of muscle tissue and normal growth, according to the American Heart Association. It plays a vital role in the nervous system by ensuring that muscles contract properly as a result of nerve stimulation. It also aids the body in keeping the amount of water and body fluids stable and balanced. Maintaining a proper level of potassium also helps people stave off heart disease and, if they are current heart patients, improve their condition.
Potassium in Diet
The normal level for potassium is between 3.5 to 5 milliequivalents per liter of blood serum, or mEq/L, according to MedlinePlus. Maintaining this balance is important -- too much potassium, also known as hyperkalemia, can cause complications such as weakness, muscle weakness, nausea, diarrhea and pain. These may lead to even more serious complications such as paralysis, slow heartbeat and a decreased ability to urinate. Patients with heart failure often have kidney trouble as well; this makes filtering excess potassium a problem.
High Blood Pressure
The Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, or NHANES III, confirmed the benefits of potassium for high blood pressure patients, as reported by HealthCastle. The study showed that getting enough potassium from fruits and vegetables had the effect of lowering blood pressure. Specifically, a diet of 8.5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily decreased blood pressure more than a diet that prescribed just 3.5 servings per day. An additional study published in January 2009 showed that individuals with low sodium and high potassium levels ran a lesser risk of heart disease.
Abnormal Heart Rhythm
Patients with abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, will definitely benefit from eating potassium-rich foods. This includes those people with ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and supraventicular tachycardia, according to MedlinePlus. The simple reason for this is that a proper potassium balance regulates the heartbeat, keeping the heart contracting in a coordinated manner. People with arrhythmia may be prescribed a potassium supplement by their doctor.
High Cholesterol
A direct link between high cholesterol and potassium has yet to be established. However, many diets that have been conclusively proven to lower cholesterol do prescribe large amounts of potassium. Patients with high cholesterol levels have a much greater risk of heart disease, and even if consuming more potassium doesn't directly reduce your risk of heart attacks, it may still help indirectly because potassium-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables are also low in cholesterol and saturated fat, which can help cut the risk of heart disease.
Congestive Heart Failure
Potassium deficiency is associated with congestive heart failure, and patients with this condition should be especially concerned about getting enough potassium, according to DoctorYourself. Diuretic pills commonly taken for heart failure can also cause a loss of potassium in urine as an unwanted side effect. Patients may therefore need to take potassium supplements or eat more foods rich in the element, such as nuts, whole grains and beans.
