Potassium is so readily available that you'd be hard pressed to find a food that doesn't include at least a little. This mineral is even found in tap water. It may be common, but potassium is so important that tests for it are found in most...
If the levels of potassium within the body are low, then the condition called hypokalemia occurs. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," potassium is the major positively charged ion in the internal cellular environment that is...
Potassium is a mineral that is important for proper heart, muscle and digestive function. Although potassium is an essential nutrient your body needs, having too much potassium can lead to a condition known as hyperkalemia. Untreated hyperkalemia...
Potassium is a mineral that is essential for your health. Potassium is an electrolyte -- a mineral that carries an electric charge through your body -- that is necessary for your nerves to respond to stimulation and for the contraction of muscles,...
Low potassium levels cause a variety of health problems including leg cramps. Leg cramps occur when the muscles in your legs contract involuntarily. In fact, leg cramps are one of the first signs of low potassium levels. Fight leg cramps and other...
Lower than normal levels of potassium in the body, or hypokalemia, can alter the way the heart works. This condition can cause symptoms such as weak muscles, constipation and cardiac arrhythmia -- abnormal heart beats. Conditions that cause the...
A potassium-deficient diet can lead to a condition called hypokalemia -- a metabolic disorder within the body. Potassium plays a key role in the proper functioning of numerous cells, especially muscle and nerve cells, reports Drugs.com. A healthy...
Potassium is an important electrolyte for many of the body's functions. These include the transmission of signals between the neurons in the nervous system, the contraction of muscles and the maintenance of a steady heart rhythm. Because of its...
Electrolyte balance, like the relationship between potassium and sodium, is an important part of your body's chemistry. Electrolytes help conduct electrical signals throughout your body, through which muscle movement and other functions take...
Potassium helps to maintain the normal function of the nerves and muscles, including the heart. However, high potassium levels in the body, or hyperkalemia, can be dangerous, even fatal. According to MayoClinic.com, hyperkalemia occurs most often...
Potassium plays a vital role in maintaining good health. It helps maintain the correct balance of water in the body, aids enzymes to function properly and supports nerve function and muscle contraction. Having too low of a level of potassium in...
Your body acquires potassium through the foods you eat. All types of meat and seafood contain the mineral, as do many fruits and vegetables. Your body needs potassium for several critical functions, including regulating your heart and making...
Potassium is a mineral. In the body, it is in the form of an electrolyte because it has an electrical and magnetic charge. Potassium's charge is +1. It is very important in regulating the electrical charge of the cells. Cells are negatively...
Potassium plays an extremely important role in the electrophysiology of your body's cells. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," potassium or K+ is the major positively charged ion in the cells. In fact, approximately 98...
The Mayo Clinic states that if you have blood potassium levels of less than 3.6 mEq/L, they fall in the low category, which is also known as hypokalemia. Low potassium levels are most likely temporary, as in the event of excessive sweating from...
Potassium is necessary for the organs, tissues and cells of the body to function properly. It acts as a conductor for energy impulses throughout the body. Potassium is one of several electrolytes that trigger chemical reactions in the body. Having...
Most of the potassium in your body is located inside of your cells and plays major roles in fluid and electrolyte balance. A small percentage of the potassium in your body circulates in the fluid outside of your cells, including your blood. When...
Potassium helps control muscle contraction and relaxation, and thus plays a vital role in maintaining the heartbeat. Potassium also helps maintain fluid balance and regulate pH. More than 95 percent of the potassium in your body is contained...
Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that helps the cells, tissues and organs of the body function properly. Potassium is important for healthy digestion, muscle and skeletal health and for a healthy heart. Potassium may help to lower blood...
Potassium is an electrolyte, which means that it has a positive electrical charge. This charge of potassium allows it to work with other electrolytes to control muscle contraction and maintain acid-base balance. Approximately 98 percent of the...
Low potassium levels in the body tend to be associated with specific circumstances, such as heavy sweating during intense athletic activity, dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, and effects of diuretics, such as blood pressure medicines....
Your body relies on potassium to perform functions including advancing digestion and maintaining muscle tissue, according to MedlinePlus. While having the right amount of potassium in the body is beneficial, too much can result in adverse body...
Rather than incur the exorbitant dermatology bill associated with treating acne, consider dietary choices as a root cause of the breakouts. Dietary alterations may or may not improve your acne, but you can limit foods and try to distinguish the...
Potassium is an element that functions as an electrolyte, or a substance that conducts electricity in the body. As an electrolyte, potassium aids in regulation of fluid balance in the body, muscle contraction, nerve function and heart function....
An increase in potassium levels, also referred to as hyperkalemia, may cause serious complications. Hyperkalemia may occur because of medical disorders such as kidney failure, or from burns, surgery, trauma and tumors. Certain medications may also...
Your body uses potassium to perform various functions. Potassium is necessary in moderating your muscles and nerves as well as your metabolism. Your body also uses potassium to regulate electrochemical processes. Potassium levels need to remain...
Cozaar, the brand name for the generic combination medication losartan and hydrochlorothiazide are both given for high blood pressure. The medications can be given separately or in combination in a medication known by the brand name Hyzaar....
Proper functioning of the human body requires potassium. Potassium plays an important role in blood pressure regulation and water balance in the body. However, too much or too little of this substance can cause health problems. Aldosterone on the...
Certain diuretics have the potential to lower your body's potassium levels as your body loses potassium through urination. Diuretics act to lower blood pressure by eliminating sodium and excess water from your body through urine, but excessive...
