Low Potassium Level

Potassium is an essential dietary mineral that propels many important functions in your body. Most Americans do not consume the recommended 4.7 g of potassium daily, which can lead to an abnormally low level in your blood and tissues. Potentially serious health problems can develop if you have a low potassium level, also known as hypokalemia. Increasing your consumption of potassium-rich foods, such as fruit, vegetables, milk and dairy products, helps protect you from the dangers associated with a low potassium level.

Cellular Effects

Potassium is the most abundant, positively charged electrolyte inside your cells. An electrolyte is an element that takes on an electrical charge when dissolved in the water-based environment inside your body. Many bodily functions involve the controlled movement of chemicals into and out of your cells; potassium is a key co-factor in these processes. Muscle contractions, the beating of your heart, the passage of messages between your brain and nerves and water balance in your body all depend on an adequate supply of potassium. A low potassium level can disrupt these life-sustaining processes in your body.

Risk Factors

Your kidneys tightly control the amount of potassium and other electrolytes in your body. This intricate system helps protect you from developing a low potassium level. Excess loss of potassium, inadequate dietary intake or a combination of these factors can lead to the development of hypokalemia. Digestive system problems, such as severe vomiting or diarrhea and certain types of intestinal tumors, can cause excess potassium loss and hypokalemia. Kidney and adrenal hormone disorders can also disrupt normal potassium conservation. Medications, especially water pills, can increase potassium excretion by the kidneys, potentially leading to hypokalemia if these losses are not counterbalanced by increased dietary intake.

Prevention

Consuming adequate amounts of potassium-rich foods is the best way to avoid developing a low potassium level. Many fruits and vegetables contain high concentrations of potassium, including bananas, raisins, apricots, nectarines, plums, cantaloupe, potatoes, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, avocados, celery, lima beans, acorn squash and sweet potatoes. Yogurt, cheese, milk, sunflower seeds and almonds are also good sources of dietary potassium.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

Physical signs and symptoms of a low potassium level typically do not develop until you have a severe deficiency. Muscular symptoms are often most prominent with a low potassium level. You may experience weakness, cramps, twitching, spasms or short periods of muscle paralysis. Heart palpitations --- an awareness of something amiss with your heartbeat --- can be an ominous warning sign with hypokalemia, because potentially fatal heart rhythm abnormalities may occur with this condition. Other possible symptoms of a low potassium level include increased urination, excessive thirst and an abnormally slow breathing rate. If you experience any warning signs of hypokalemia, seek urgent medical attention.