Your body uses potassium to help keep much of your system, including muscles, nerves and heart, functioning properly. Excessively low levels of potassium in your body can be inconvenient and uncomfortable at best and actually dangerous at worst.
Definition
Hypokalemia is the scientific term for excessively low levels of potassium in the bloodstream. According to the Mayo Clinic, normal, healthy potassium levels in the blood should generally fall somewhere between 3.6 and 4.8 milliequivalents per liter. It is actually life threatening if your blood's potassium level falls below 2.5 mEq/L, since your heart, in particular, needs potassium in order to continue functioning properly.
Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of moderately low potassium levels is muscle cramps. These muscle cramps, especially in the legs and calves, can be particularly prevalent after vigorous exercise. Other hypokalemia symptoms can include tiredness and muscle fatigue, constipation, and arrhythmias -- a condition in which your heart beats irregularly or abnormally.
Causes
Virtually anyone can fall victim to moderately low potassium levels under some circumstances. According to the National Institutes of Health, individuals who may be at elevated risk of hypokalemia include people who suffer from eating disorders such as bulimia; people who are suffering from a condition that causes vomiting or diarrhea; people who are sweating profusely, such as during or after vigorous exercise; people who are taking diuretics, which increase urination; and people who are taking some types of antibiotics, such as amphotericin B, carbenicillin and gentamicin.
Cures
In moderate cases that are not caused by a recurring health issue, low potassium levels can be treated simply by ingesting products that contain significant amounts of potassium. These products include such foods as spinach, bananas, raisins, and many other fruits and vegetables. Many fortified sports drinks also contain potassium supplementation, as do most multivitamins; you can also find potassium-exclusive oral supplements. Serious cases of potassium deficiency, however, should be handled by a qualified physician; IV supplementation or similar treatment may be required.
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