
12 Signs & Causes of Low Potassium Levels YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE
12 Signs & causes of Low Potassium Level you should not ignore Potassium is a type or mineral which is really essential in order for the body cells, tissues and even organs to work properly. It is one of the necessary and needed electrolytes which conduct electrical impulses in the entire body. Additionally, this mineral is extremely important for the right and proper functions of the muscles, including the heart. As a matter of fact, low potassium levels may be caused by different kinds of factors. It can either be due to excessive sweating, hydration, diarrhea, as well as consuming less food which are loaded with it. There are also different kinds of medicines that have the ability to affect the level of potassium in the body . With the help of this video, we will be sharing to you some of the warning signs and symptoms that you are having low potassium levels in the body. This is also known as hypokalemia 1. Medication Side Effect hypokalemia may occur as a side effect of taking a variety of other medications. When taken in large doses, certain antibiotics can induce low potassium 2. Muscle Weakness and Cramps potassium is necessary for the proper functioning of the body’s muscles. So if you’re low on the nutrient, it stands to reason that you will likely experience some problems. Muscle weakness may be among the first signs, which can “cause a person difficulty when walking or holding objects.” 3. Alcohol Abuse Alcohol, especially when consumed in excessive amounts, negatively affects your entire body—and potassium levels are no exception. this is because “Alcohol use causes imbalances of electrolytes, the electrically conductive ions in body fluids, which affects potassium levels.” these imbalances “interfere with normal body processes by altering the chemical composition and concentration of fluids throughout your body.” Therefore, it’s best to watch your alcohol intake in order to prevent it from causing low patassium 4. Fatigue “Every cell in your body needs the right amount of potassium to function therefore “a sustained dip can result in generalized fatigue.” But there are a wide variety of factors that can cause feelings of fatigue, which can make it hard to identify the symptom as being due to low potassium levels. if your regular sweat session leaves you exhausted and you know you’re getting enough sleep, potassium might be the cause. 5. Abnormal Heart Rhythms The heart is able to work tirelessly thanks to a find balance of important chemicals — such as potassium and sodium — between the heart cells and the bloodstream.” When hypokalemia occurs, however, the source indicates it can affect this balance and “disrupt the regular rhythm of the heart.” These abnormal heart rhythms are known as arrhythmias, and may cause you to feel like your heart is “pounding, fluttering, or about to skip out of your chest,” Such symptoms are considered severe, so if you experience them be sure to seek immediate medical attention. 6. Constipation The walls of the stomach and intestines “contain muscle cells…that propel food through the digestive system,” When the potassium levels in your blood are low, these cells become sluggish, leading to a variety of digestion issues. constipation is the most common complaint; however, if potassium levels drop to severely low levels, “the propelling movements of the intestines may stop entirely, causing nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, bloating and abdominal pain.” 7. Frequent Urination In some cases, if hypokalemia persists for a lengthy period of time, kidney problems may develop. One such problem is that “people with a potassium deficiency usually urinate frequently and produce more urine than normal,” And water loss from frequent urination “triggers ongoing thirst and drinking more fluids to compensate,” which in turn leads to more frequent urination, and so the cycle continues. if left untreated, hypokalemia can cause kidney malfunction, and “people with pre-existing kidney disease are vulnerable to kidney failure.” 8. Tingling and Numbness Low levels of potassium in the blood can also cause feelings of tingling and numbness,. It typically occurs in the extremities, such as the fingers, toes, hands, or feet, which may radiate out into other areas of the body including the arms and legs.” As potassium is an essential nutrient to proper functioning of the body’s nerves, declining levels can affect the electrical impulses passed from the skin and muscles to the spinal cord and brain, leading to a loss of sensation along the outer extremities.”