Potassium is an important mineral and electrolyte critical for your body's function. However, taking potassium supplements can cause an imbalance in minerals in your body, resulting in water retention. Water retention, or edema, can be unsightly and place strain on your heart and blood vessels. Follow label directions and your doctor's instructions when taking potassium supplements to avoid potentially dangerous side effects.
Potassium
Potassium is partially responsible for the electrical signals that allow your heart, muscles and brain to function. The proper level of potassium is also important to regulate the amount of water inside your cells and throughout your body. Deficiency of potassium is rare; Your normally get plenty from your diet. If you are taking certain medications, especially diuretics, or have certain diseases, such as a kidney or gastrointestinal disease, you may not be able to maintain sufficient levels of potassium. In this case, your doctor will prescribe a potassium supplement. Potassium may also be used in the case of fluid loss from diarrhea, vomiting or excessive sweating.
Elevated Potassium
Potassium is highly concentrated inside your body's cells and low in your blood and other body fluids. Your cells can only absorb so much potassium. Further intake of potassium causes levels in other body fluids to rise, interfering with electrical signals in the heart, brain and muscles. Very high levels of potassium in the blood, a condition called hyperkalemia, can cause irregular heartbeat, nausea, slow or weak pulse and eventually coma and death if uncontrolled. In an attempt to decrease rising potassium levels, your body increases urine production to remove potassium and retains water to dilute the high potassium outside cells.
Water Retention
You may notice fluid retention, or edema, as swelling in your limbs, face, abdomen and feet. Edema may raise blood pressure, make it more difficult to breathe and cause muscle aches and pains. Potassium supplements can result in water retention for two reasons -- to dilute high potassium levels and to correct dehydration from increased urine production.
Hazards
Consult with your health-care provider before taking a potassium supplement. Follow dosing directions exactly. Edema can be a sign of serious medical conditions, including organ failure. If you have persistent edema, see your doctor. If you are taking potassium for minor dehydration or without the advice of your doctor, consider using a sports drink or eating potassium-rich foods, such as milk, bananas and vegetables, instead.
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