Nephrologists often advise patients with advanced kidney disease to go on low-potassium or low-phosphorus diets. In healthy people, the kidneys regulate levels of these minerals and keep them within a narrow range. If you suffer from chronic...
Potassium and iron are two minerals required to keep your body functioning properly. When you have low levels of either mineral, you can experience serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects. A knowledge of the symptoms of low levels of...
Low potassium, or hypokalemia, occurs when your blood potassium levels sink below normal. Potassium is a vital mineral that is needed for the healthy function of nerves and muscles, and without it your heart can't work properly. Mild hypokalemia...
Hypokalemia is a medical condition in which blood levels of potassium are too low. This condition can be caused by several medical conditions or inadequate dietary intake of potassium. Because this condition can become life-threatening, it is...
Potassium is a mineral that your body needs to maintain a proper fluid balance, as well as to ensure that your nerve cells are able to send messages to your brain so you can use your muscles. You need a certain amount of potassium in your blood...
Potassium helps the cells function in your body. A low potassium level in your blood, a condition called hypokalemia, often causes symptoms such as tiredness, muscle cramps and changes to heart rhythm, explains MayoClinic.com. You may lose...
Potassium is a mineral found in food and used by your body to help regulate fluid levels, heartbeat and proper nerve function. Your kidneys maintain proper potassium levels in your body. Kidney impairment is a common reason your doctor may...
Low potassium, medically termed hypokalemia, occurs when potassium levels in the blood are low. Since potassium is an essential nutrient that aids the nerves, muscle cells and heart, a low potassium level can cause severe complications such as...
Potassium is a mineral that's absolutely essential for your muscles and nerves to function properly. Low potassium in the body is called hypokalemia, which can be caused by diarrhea and vomiting, some antibiotics and drugs, kidney disease, eating...
Potassium is an essential nutrient for life. Potassium helps control functions of the nervous system and plays a role in transporting nutrients into cells and waste out of cells. In addition, normal levels of potassium are essential for proper...
In a healthy woman, blood potassium ranges between 3.6 and 4.8 mEq/L. Low potassium, or hypokalemia, occurs when the amount of potassium in a woman's blood falls below this healthy range. Because potassium controls nerve impulses and muscle...
Low potassium treatment depends on the potassium deficiency. Normal blood potassium levels are 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), according to MayoClinic.com. Severely low levels can be life-threatening, requiring hospitalization. If...
A diet providing fewer than 40 mEq of potassium per day is defined as a low potassium diet. This diet is typically prescribed to because of renal problems, but may also be necessary if you are taking certain medications, such as some hypertensives...
Potassium is a vital mineral your body needs to function at its best. Your potassium level is closely tied to how much sodium and magnesium you have in your blood, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Low potassium...
Potassium is an electrolyte that the body requires for muscle and nerve cells to function. We get our potassium from foods we eat. If your potassium level drops too low, a metabolic disorder called hypokalemia develops. A low potassium level has...
Hypokalemia or a low potassium level is defined as having a blood potassium level below normal. Normal blood potassium levels fall between 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Hypokalemia can be caused by medications such as certain...
Anxiety is associated with low potassium, or hypokalemia. Potassium is an important mineral involved in the function of cells, tissues and organs in the human body. Potassium is also an electrolyte, a substance lost during physical activity that...
The body requires potassium for its nerves and cells to function properly. People typically get the potassium they need from food and beverages. The kidneys maintain a proper balance of potassium in the system and remove excess potassium through...
Potassium is necessary for muscle and nerve function in the body. Low potassium, or hypokalemia, can result in dangerous arrhythmias (heart rate abnormalities) and rhabdomyolysis (destruction of muscle tissue). Fortunately, the treatment for...
Your blood potassium levels are usually regulated by your body. But in certain circumstances potassium may become tougher to find and retain in the body, resulting in a condition called hypokalemia. Low potassium is usually not a major concern,...
Your body needs certain amounts of different minerals, including potassium, to function properly. If you don't have enough potassium in your body, also known as hypokalemia, it can cause a variety of symptoms, including muscle pain. Although pain...
Your body uses potassium to help keep much of your system, including muscles, nerves and heart, functioning properly. Excessively low levels of potassium in your body can be inconvenient and uncomfortable at best and actually dangerous at worst.
Potassium plays a vital role in the transmission of nerve impulses and contraction of muscles. Because of its role in muscle contraction, the levels of potassium in your body help control your heart beat. Most of the potassium in your body is...
Potassium is a nutrient that helps support your heart and muscles. Too much can be dangerous, and if your levels are elevated, your doctor may recommend a low-potassium meal plan. Having too much potassium in your blood can produce weakness,...
Potassium is an essential dietary mineral that propels many important functions in your body. Most Americans do not consume the recommended 4.7 g of potassium daily, which can lead to an abnormally low level in your blood and tissues. Potentially...
Your body needs potassium in order to sustain healthy function of your heart, nerves and muscle cells. When levels get too low, you may begin to experience certain symptoms that require immediate attention. If you have low potassium as a result of...
Electrolytes are defined as minerals with an electrical charge, which may be either positive or negative. Electrolytes work together and with bodily fluids to maintain water balance, maintain the body's optimal pH level, deliver nutrients to your...
Parents want the best for their children and that includes good health and the ability to play and grow without interruption. When there is an imbalance in the body's chemicals or minerals, normal childhood activities can be disrupted. Low...
Potassium is a vital nutrient used for healthy functioning of the nerves and muscles. Potassium is an electrolyte that is an important ingredient for heart health, too. When potassium levels in the blood become too low, a condition called...
The DASH diet is a dietary approach to stop hypertension. Learn more about the DASH diet in this health and nutrition video.
Limiting potassium in your diet can help patients with Addison's disease. Learn how to adjust your diet to fit your specific health and nutrition needs in this healthy shopping video.
Kidney disease is caused by the kidney's shutting down due to damage from diabetes or high blood pressure. Learn about the best diet for kidney disease in this video.