Potassium is a mineral that has a number of important functions in your body and its metabolism. As an electrolyte, potassium helps maintain normal blood pressure and cardiac function. It also helps regulate acid-base balance and is involved in protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Abnormally high or low levels of potassium can cause problems in your body, some of them serious. Normal potassium levels are 3.5 to 5.0 millimoles per liter.
Diet
Problems with potassium rarely have to do with the foods in your diet. Many foods contain potassium. Fruit, milk, yogurt, vegetables, soy, fish and all meats contain potassium. Your diet is unlikely to contain abnormally high or low amounts of potassium. Problems with potassium levels in your body are typically associated with certain medications or diseases. Having abnormally high levels is called hyperkalemia, and having abnormally low levels is called hypokalemia.
Aldosterone
The potassium levels in your blood are regulated by aldosterone, a hormone that your adrenal glands produce. Aldosterone controls the balance between potassium and sodium in your kidneys, which affects the amount of fluid that they excrete. Together with other hormones, this affects the volume of your blood and blood pressure. The hormone also acts in a similar way in other parts of your body, such as your colon, sweat glands and salivary glands.
Hypokalemia
Your body closely regulates levels of potassium in your blood. Hypokalemia can result if you lose potassium from vomiting, diarrhea, adrenal gland and kidney disorders, and the use of drugs such as some diuretics, steroids, some antibiotics, insulin, salicylates and laxatives. Low potassium levels might also occur if you have kidney disease. Diuretic therapy for high blood pressure is often associated with hypokalemia due to increased urination and loss of fluid.
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia can result from adrenal tumors, burns, surgery, traumatic injury and underfunctioning kidneys. Dialysis patients commonly develop hyperkalemia. It can also be a problem if you are taking drugs such as heparin, histamine, some diuretics and anti-cancer medications, as well as potassium supplements. If your adrenals produce sufficient levels of aldosterone and your kidneys are working properly, your potassium levels should be normal. Hyperkalemia can cause nausea, irregular pulse, unconsciousness and even heart failure.
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