If you are having trouble with your potassium, your doctor may put you on a supplement or may start you on a low potassium diet. Either too much or too little potassium can adversely affect your health, so it is important that you get it right. Do not start taking a potassium supplement without your doctor's approval. The side effects of a potassium imbalance are life threatening.
Role of Potassium
Potassium is one of the most important minerals in the body. It is an electrolyte, which means it is responsible for the movement of electrical impulses within a cell. It is also essential for the contraction of muscles: smooth, skeletal and cardiac. For this reason, potassium is vital to every body system. When it is out of balance, there is potential for widespread side effects.
Too Much Potassium
When you have too much potassium built up in your body, it is known as hyperkalemia. The filtering processes of the kidneys balance sodium and potassium levels and remove excess fluid. If your kidneys are damaged, potassium accumulates. An overdose of potassium, the rupture of red blood cells, or trauma such as burns can also cause hyperkalemia. Symptoms of hyperkalemia include tingling in your extremities, weakness and transitory paralysis. However, the most dangerous side effect is heart rhythm abnormalities. The heart can stop if the potassium level becomes too high.
Too Little Potassium
Too little potassium is known as hypokalemia. There are many reasons that your potassium could be low including excessive vomiting or diarrhea, alcoholism, abuse of laxatives, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, magnesium deficiency or congestive heart failure. If you take a water pill, you may also be at risk for low potassium. Water pills, such as loop and thiazide diuretics, are prime culprits. Some signs of low potassium are fatigue, muscle cramping, bloating and constipation. You can also have heart disturbances with very low potassium, which can be fatal.
Potassium Precautions
Potassium can be a very dangerous substance to your body, so it should only be taken as a supplement under doctor's orders. If you have kidney problems, it is important that you avoid foods high in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes and orange juice, so that you can keep your levels low. If you are on a diuretic of any kind, you should talk to your doctor about your potassium levels. If you take a type of drug called an ACE-inhibitor, such as captopril or enlapril, you can also be at risk for high potassium. If you take digoxin, low potassium may make your digoxin more potent, so it is important to know what your potassium level is if you are at risk.
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