Potassium and magnesium are two minerals essential to your body's proper functioning. A deficiency in either electrolyte could have serious effects and be harmful to your health. Potassium plays a role in the contraction and relaxation of muscles, and since your heart is muscle it helps regulate your heart beat. Magnesium also is responsible for regulating muscles, in addition to maintaining nerve function and supporting strong bone formation. Additional roles according to the Office of Dietary Supplements include regulating blood pressure and blood glucose levels, energy metabolism and the production of proteins known as protein synthesis.
Low Potassium Level
Low potassium in the blood, otherwise known as hypokalemia, can cause an irregular heart beat, muscle cramping, elevated blood pressure and an electrolyte imbalance. A normal serum potassium level ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. A potassium level of 3.5 mEq/L is considered to be lower than normal, but a potassium level of 2.5 mEq/L or less can cause harmful side effects and symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. Symptoms you may experience include irregular heart beats, muscle weakness, constipation and feeling tired and weak. If you are experiencing these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately for a blood test to check your potassium level.
Causes of Low Potassium
Most foods contain potassium, so diet is usually not the cause unless you struggle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia or are not eating adequately due to a poor appetite. Potassium becomes depleted with vomiting, diarrhea or excessive use of laxatives. Diuretics or water pills deplete potassium levels and may require you to take a potassium supplement. According to MayoClinic.com, disease and disorders such as Cushing syndrome, Fanconi syndrome, hyperaldosteronism and Bartter syndrome affect the kidneys' ability to retain potassium, leading to depleted potassium levels and deficiency. If you have hypokalemia, eating foods high in potassium can help replenish potassium to normal levels in the blood. High-potassium foods include oranges, orange juice, bananas, spinach, potatoes, sweet potatoes, melons, dried beans, kiwi, papaya, mangoes and avocadoes.
Low Level of Magnesium
A magnesium deficiency is associated with a low potassium level. Symptoms of low magnesium become more serious as the deficiency worsens. Early symptoms include decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting and weakness. More severe symptoms include numbness and tingling, irregular heart beat, heart spasms, personality changes, seizures, muscle cramping and depleted calcium levels. Good magnesium stores may help to prevent heart disease.
Causes or Low Magnesium
Magnesium is absorbed through the intestines and transported to tissues by the blood. Conditions such as Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome can cause malabsorption of magnesium and deplete your stores. Healthy kidneys are able to limit urinary excretion of magnesium to make up for low dietary intake, but certain medications such as laxatives, diuretics and some antibiotics can contribute to deficiency. Uncontrolled diabetes, in which chronically high blood sugar is untreated, and alcohol abuse can cause excessive magnesium loss through urine, says the Office of Dietary Supplements.
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