Potassium is an important electrolyte in the blood that helps to maintain normal nerve, muscle and heart function. According to MayoClinic.com, the normal level for potassium in the blood is 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. Anything lower than that is considered low potassium, or hypokalemia. There can be multiple causes of hypokalemia.
Signs of Low Potassium
When the body is low in potassium, normal function is interrupted and weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, constipation and abnormal heart rhythms might occur, according to MayoClinic.com. If you suspect that your potassium is low and you have these symptoms, it is important to check with your doctor.
Diuretic Loss
Diuretics are medications used to treat high blood pressure and work by removing excess fluid from the body. At the same time, diuretics remove potassium from the body, causing hypokalemia. Often if diuretics are prescribed, your physician will ask you to take a potassium supplement to avoid hypokalemia.
Gastrointestinal Loss
Chronic diarrhea or abuse of laxatives can wash out potassium from the blood. If you are experiencing a GI flu that causes you to vomit or have diarrhea, you might be low in potassium. Patients in the hospital with nasogastric tubes in their noses that lead to the stomach for suctioning also might have hypokalemia.
Renal Loss
Congenital disorders can cause potassium wasting through the kidneys. Renal tubular acidosis, Cushing's disease, hyperaldosteronism and small adrenal glands are causes of renal loss of potassium. Ingestion of natural licorice also can cause potassium wasting through the kidneys.
Intracellular Shift
The shifting of potassium from the blood into the cells might result in hypokalemia. For example, the use of insulin causes this phenomenon. Toxicity of the thyroid gland and stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system with drugs such as albuterol can cause a shift of blood potassium.
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