Illnesses Caused by Low Potassium

Chronically low levels of potassium in the blood, called hypokalemia, can lead to serious health issues. Potassium plays an important role in nerves and muscles, making it essential to a healthy body. Potassium deficiencies through extreme loss of fluids, high-salt diets and kidney problems are the most common causes of low potassium. In most cases, a physician-directed diet change can correct potassium deficiencies and prevent serious illness.

Hypertension

• Low potassium causes muscle weakness that can affect the heart, the body's most important muscle. The resultant weakness and irregularity of the heart causes hypertension that can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Osteoporosis

• Potassium works with calcium to alkalize the blood. Without sufficient potassium, calcium can leach from the bones to stabilize blood pH. Osteoporosis can develop if these conditions persist.

Respiratory Diseases

• Potassium plays a role in lung development, and children not receiving adequate potassium are at increased risk of suffering from respiratory diseases later in life.

Kidney Disease

• Since the kidneys are responsible for processing the body's potassium, kidney problems are both a sign and symptom of low potassium.

ADHD

• Although it has not been proven that low potassium causes attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, scientific studies have shown that adding potassium to the diets of children diagnosed with ADHD improves memory, behavior and school performance.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of low potassium include weakness or tingling in the limbs, mood swings, heart palpitations, fatigue, confusion and abdominal cramps. The separate symptoms may be mild, but experiencing a few from this list may point to a potassium deficiency.