Approximately 1.2 million men and women suffer a heart attack each year in the United States, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in 2011. The leading cause of heart attacks is coronary heart disease, in which fatty deposits...
An optimum blood potassium levels falls between 3.6 and 4.8 milliequivalents per liter, or mEq/L. If your level falls below 3.6 mEq/L, your doctor will recommend guidelines to prevent your potassium from declining further. If your serum potassium...
The muscles, nerves and cells in the body need a certain level of potassium to function normally. When levels are too high or low, you are at risk for several health problems. Normal levels of potassium are 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter,...
Low blood potassium is a condition called hypokalemia. Approximately 98 percent of the body's potassium stores are located within cells in what is known as intracellular fluid, or ICF, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." A...
Potassium, a dietary mineral, has several important functions in the body. In its most vital role, potassium works with sodium to regulate the body's water balance. It also helps maintain nerve function, muscle control and blood pressure. Low...
Potassium is a mineral the body needs for proper digestive function, for contracting muscles, for conducting electricity, for heart function and for nerve cell function. Many foods contain potassium, but some people do not consume enough of these...
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most adults do not get enough potassium. Potassium is a macromineral, meaning it is needed in large amounts for the body to function properly. It plays a major role in heart and muscle function as...
Potassium is an important electrolyte in the body. Potassium levels are carefully regulated to ensure that the body can function properly. Low levels of potassium, a condition termed hypokalemia, can cause abnormal heart rhythms, fatigue, muscle...
Potassium plays several vital roles in the body and there can be health complications if your level gets too low or too high. The success of any treatment program to bring your potassium levels up to normal depends on the cause of deficiency and...
Potassium is involved in many processes of the body, which include the regulation of heart function, protein synthesis and nerve function. Potassium is also involved in the acid-base balance of the blood. Low potassium makes the blood more basic....
Your body needs potassium to control the concentrations of several important chemicals inside your cells. When released from food in your small bowel, potassium dissolves in the watery fluids of your body and has a positive electrical charge. This...
A panic attack is a recognized medical condition where you experience a sudden episode of intense fear and dread for no apparent reason. The attack results in several physical reactions that can make you feel like you are having a heart attack or...
Low potassium, also referred to as hypokalemia, can be caused by several medical conditions, including kidney disease and diuretic use. Low potassium levels can cause several symptoms, including weakness, muscle cramping, sweating, nausea,...
Hypokalemia is a condition marked by low levels of potassium in the blood. Potassium is essential for life. Although a temporary minor decrease in potassium levels may only cause you to feel tired, a sustained or substantial decrease can be quite...
Potassium, a major mineral essential for human health, plays important roles in the human body. In addition to regulating blood pressure, potassium helps maintain a normal heart beat, water and acid-base balance and assists in sending nerve...
Potassium is an essential mineral that your body needs for many functions. Having too much potassium in your body or having too little can both be dangerous to your health. If you're concerned that your potassium levels are too low, consult your...
Potassium belongs to a class of nutrients known as macro-minerals. This essential element plays a role in many biological functions including blood pressure control, fluid balance and muscle contraction. Fluctuations in blood potassium levels are...
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...
Potassium is critical for the normal functioning of muscles and nerves. Low levels of potassium are often the result of increased loss of the electrolyte through the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys. Low blood potassium, also known by the medical...
Potassium is a mineral that is essential for the proper functioning of your nerves, muscles and heart. MayoClinic.com reports that low potassium levels can be life-threatening and symptoms include muscle cramps, constipation, weakness, fatigue and...
The next time you feel winded it might not be because you're out of shape -- low potassium levels can also contribute to shortness of breath, also called "dyspnea." There are many different reasons why you might have low potassium levels, and it's...
The body requires potassium for proper function of nerve and muscle cells. When levels become depleted, the condition is called hypokalemia. The kidneys regulate blood potassium levels, and kidney damage or disease can cause potassium levels to...
Potassium is one of the most important minerals needed by the body for proper functioning of all cells. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral found in the body and is required to keep the body in good health, according to the National...
Potassium is a vital nutrient that is part of the electrolytes found in your body. A low potassium level can produce several side effects and cause possible life-threatening complications. The only way to tell if your potassium levels are low is...
Potassium is an electrolyte that needs to be maintained at specific levels in the body. When the levels of potassium in the blood get too low, it is known as a condition called hypokalemia. There are many causes of low potassium that can result...
Potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction and relaxation, helps maintain fluid balance and is vital to the proper functioning of your heart. Your blood potassium level is normally between 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. The amount of potassium in...
Potassium is an electrolyte, one of the many electrically charged molecules that are important in the body's metabolic processes. The majority of the potassium in the body is within the cells, so the levels of potassium in the bloodstream are low...
The mineral potassium is an essential part of a healthy diet, as the body needs it to function and stay healthy. The body uses potassium to help build muscles, aid in the process of metabolism and maintain the proper balance of acids and bases,...
After you eat a food containing potassium, the mineral travels to your intestines. The intestine absorbs potassium into your bloodstream, where it circulates until it reaches the kidneys. The kidneys decide how much potassium to excrete and how...
