Why Would A Healthy Female Have Low Potassium Levels?

Potassium is an electrolyte necessary for life, helping maintain the health of the muscles and the nervous system. A normal level ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L, according to MayoClinic.com. Hypokalemia, or low potassium, often occurs as a result of disease. Occasionally, however, a seemingly healthy individual finds she has low potassium. Treatment may involve administration of a diluted potassium solution into the vein or oral replacement. Attempting to treat hypokalemia without medical monitoring can be dangerous.

Dietary Deficiency

Rarely, a potassium deficiency can be blamed on poor dietary choices, MayoClinic.com explains. A fad diet or unusual dietary restrictions may lead to hypokalemia. If you eat the recommended five to nine fruits and vegetables each day, you are unlikely to incur this problem. Good fruit choices include bananas, avocados and cantaloupes. Dried fruits such as apricots, raisins, prunes and dates are concentrated sources of potassium. Topping the list of high-potassium vegetables are mushrooms, squash, potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. Milk, yogurt, fish and meat are also good sources of this nutrient.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Vomiting from a bout of food poisoning or an intestinal virus can deplete the body's potassium. Unexplained hypokalemia in a healthy female may be the result of hidden bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by repeated vomiting after meals. Prolonged diarrhea can lower potassium levels; this is typically found in cases of intestinal virus, food poisoning and laxative abuse.

Medication

Some antibiotics can cause hypokalemia, including amphotericin B, carbenicillin and gentamicin. This can potentially be life-threatening if potassium levels are already low or the antibiotic is administered into the vein. Diuretic use can lead to potassium deficiency; unmonitored diuretic abuse in an attempt to avoid water weight gain can lead to critically low potassium levels. Corticosteroids, sometimes taken by relatively healthy women for episodic problems such as skin inflammation or allergies, can also cause hypokalemia.

Sweating

Healthy women who run marathons in the heat or who otherwise perform strenuous activities during hot weather can experience potassium loss through sweating. Rarely, this becomes severe enough to require medical intervention.