One of the most common hypertensive medications is a class of drug called diuretics. Diuretics help reduce blood pressure by triggering your body to eliminate sodium and water, which reduces blood volume, thus reducing the amount of pressure on your arterial walls. Because potassium works with sodium to maintain fluid balance, the loss of sodium and water often leads to a loss of potassium as well.
Decreased Potassium Levels
A decrease in potassium levels is referred to as hypokalemia. Because potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction, a decrease in potassium levels can have detrimental effects on your heart. If potassium levels drop too low, the electrical system in your heart may be interrupted, resulting in decreased heart rate or abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. A severe drop in potassium levels may even lead to cardiac arrest or death.
Prevention
You might be able to prevent a significant loss of potassium by increasing the amount you consume while taking diuretics. The best way to increase your potassium intake is through your diet. Foods that are rich in potassium include citrus juices, bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, cantaloupe, salmon, cod and chicken.
Taking a potassium supplement may also help prevent significant potassium loss. When taking a potassium supplement, however, it is important that you follow dosage instructions closely because excess potassium supplementation can cause dangerous increases in the levels of potassium in your blood. Talk with your doctor to determine the best option for you.
Potassium-Sparing Diuretics
If a regular diuretic causes you to lose too much potassium, your doctor may recommend a potassium-sparing diuretic. Potassium-sparing diuretics are a specific type of diuretic that helps reduce the amount of sodium and water in your body, but preserves the amount of potassium. They can, however, cause abnormally high levels of potassium in the body. If you are taking a potassium-sparing diuretic, you may need to limit the amount of potassium in your diet. Work closely with your doctor or a dietitian to determine the proper treatment plan, and then make sure to stick to that plan closely.
Considerations
If you are taking diuretics, your doctor may request that you come in for regular blood tests. During these tests, your doctor can measure your potassium levels and make sure they are within normal range. If your levels begin to drop, your doctor might switch your medication or reduce your dosage to prevent dangerous decreases in potassium levels that can lead to serious complications. Make sure to closely follow your doctor's treatment recommendations.
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