Potassium is an electrolyte your body needs to keep your cells, nerves and muscles functioning normally. If your blood potassium levels dip below 2.5 milliequivalents per liter or mEq/L, your doctor may diagnose you with hypokalemia, a condition characterized by low potassium levels. Without a sufficient supply of potassium, you may experience symptoms of muscle cramps, fatigue or weakness. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about why your potassium levels are low.
Chronic Kidney Failure
In healthy people, the kidneys function to remove waste and toxins from the body, including potassium. If your kidneys don't work properly due to chronic kidney failure, they may be unable to regulate how much potassium is released from your body. Consequently, you may excrete unusually high levels of potassium in your urine, which may cause hypokalemia.
Primary Aldosteronism
Aldosterone is a naturally-occurring hormone that controls how much potassium and sodium your kidneys filter out of your body. If you have primary aldosteronism, your body produces unusually high levels of aldosterone. Too much aldosterone overstimulates your kidneys and causes your body to retain high levels of sodium while releasing high levels of potassium. Other diseases that affect the function of your kidneys, including Cushing syndrome, Bartter syndrome, Liddle syndrome and Fanconi syndrome, may also lead to hypokalemia.
Chronic Diarrhea Or Vomiting
Persistent or recurrent bouts of diarrhea or vomiting cause your body to lose fluid and electrolytes, including potassium. These symptoms may also increase your risk of becoming dehydrated. If you experience diarrhea or continue vomiting for more than two to three days, seek prompt care from your medical provider.
Eating Disorders
People who have an eating disorder, such as bulimia, may induce vomiting or frequent bowel movements to prevent them from gaining weight after eating. As noted, diarrhea and vomiting cause fluid loss and can lower your potassium levels. Alternatively, people with anorexia may eat very little and may exercise excessively. A poor diet and profuse sweating may also lead to hypokalemia in such people.
Use of Certain medications
Prolonged treatment with diuretics, also called water pills, and laxatives may cause you to excrete unusually high levels of potassium. For this reason, you may be at risk of developing hypokalemia if you abuse or improperly use these medications. Certain antibiotics, including amphotericin B, carbenicillin and gentamicin, may also lower your potassium levels.
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