Reasons for Low Potassium

Hypokalemia is the medical term for low blood potassium levels. The condition is typically defined a potassium level below 3.6 milliequivalents per liter of blood.

Causes

• Potassium is a water soluble electrolyte that is needed to maintain normal functions in critical organs, including the heart. The use of diuretics or water pills, anorexia and other eating disorders, diarrhea, vomiting, abuse of laxatives and excessive levels of aldosterone or primary aldosteronism can cause potassium levels to drop, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Identification

• Some symptoms of low potassium include muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue, constipation and arrhythmia, or heartbeat irregularity.

Diagnosis

• Doctor typically rely upon routine bloodwork to diagnose low potassium.

Risks

• In some cases, low potassium levels cause extreme elevations of thyroid hormones, resulting in temporary paralysis, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Over time, hypokalemia has the potential to cause kidney failure.

Treatment

• Oral otassium supplements are the most common treatment for mild cases of hypokalemia. More severe cases require the administration of potassium intravenously. When paralysis occurs, doctors treat the complications with medications to lower thyroid hormone levels.