Potassium is crucial to so many roles in your body that your well-being depends on maintaining the right amount. It's important to eat enough potassium-containing foods to give your body the supply it needs. An imbalance may not cause any symptoms, but it is potentially life-threatening.
Role of Potassium
Potassium is a mineral that is capable of generating a positive charge when in a solution. Together with sodium, which creates a negative charge, the two minerals are responsible for muscle contraction, transmitting nerve signals and heart function. Potassium is also needed for carbohydrate metabolism and it helps regulate blood pressure. Potassium levels are strictly regulated so that a tight balance is maintained and the proper amount is available throughout the body.
Low Potassium
When the levels of potassium get too low, it's called hypokalemia. Hypokalemia may be caused by diuretics, diarrhea, kidney disease, eating disorders, sweating and vomiting, which all result in too much potassium being excreted. A mild case of hypokalemia may not cause any symptoms, but a severe drop in potassium usually causes symptoms such as an abnormal heart rhythm, muscle weakness or spasms, fatigue and paralysis.
High Potassium
Because the kidneys remove excess potassium from the body, it's not as common to experience high potassium, or hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is usually caused by kidney disease that interferes with the body's ability to keep potassium in balance. Disorders of the hormone that regulates removal of potassium and injury due to burns, internal bleeding, tumors, surgery or infections can also result in high levels of potassium. Including a lot of potassium in your diet seldom causes hyperkalemia unless you have kidney disease. High potassium often has no symptoms and by the time they occur, the imbalance may be extreme. Symptoms to watch for include an irregular heartbeat, slow or weak pulse and nausea.
Food Sources
If you're at risk for a potassium imbalance, you may need to increase or decrease dietary intake. You can do this by adjusting the amount of food sources that are high in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes, oranges, tomatoes, raisins, lima beans, spinach, sunflower seeds, flounder and chicken.
Warnings
An extreme imbalance of potassium, whether high or low, can lead to cardiac arrest. If you have kidney disease, monitor your potassium intake. Over time, lack of potassium can lead to kidney damage, while high potassium may cause changes in nerve and muscle control.
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