Potassium is a mineral that plays many roles in the human body and can have negative impacts on the body if it is low. From regulating muscles to maintaining proper nerve function, potassium plays a crucial role in keeping the human body balanced. When someone is seeing the symptoms of low potassium hypokalemia is the outcome. Read on to find out the common signs of low potassium:
1. Fatigue
If you’ve been feeling extremely weak or tired recently, this could be a huge indicator of having low potassium. If you are eating properly, getting a good night’s rest every night and not normally tired. Sudden fatigue is one of the earliest signs of low potassium.
2. Muscle cramps
Having muscle cramps and spasms is another evident sign of low potassium levels because potassium is directly related to muscle contractions and functions. This symptom is more of an indicator then fatigue because it is directly related to your potassium level. Low blood potassium levels result in more prolonged muscle contractions and more muscle cramps and spasms. It’s a very early sign of low potassium, but also a very clearly related symptom.
3. Digestive problems
Having digestive problems is another clear indicator of low potassium because potassium helps to send the signals from the brain to muscles located in the digestive system and without it, these signals don’t happen as frequently as they should. One of the first signs that you’re having digestive problems is that your digestive system has slowed down and become weaker. You might experience less urge to use the bathroom than normal. You will also experience bloating and constipation. There’s also a chance that the gut could become completely paralyzed and stop working. This is all happening because potassium levels are low in the body and the brain can’t relay signals to the gut effectively.
4. Breathing difficulties
If you’re having trouble breathing, doctors will inspect your lungs but it’s possible that your potassium levels could be extremely low in your body. Just like in other places of your body, potassium relays signals from your brain to stimulate your lungs to contract and expand. If you have low levels of potassium, these signals become slower and more delayed. When your lungs don’t expand and contract properly it results in shortness of breath and chest pain. This is a more fatal symptom of having low potassium.
5. Heart palpitations
Heart Palpitations are a sign of low potassium for a few different reasons. Potassium in the body helps to regulate the beating of the heart. If potassium levels are low in the body, it can easily throw off the regulation of the heartbeat and alter the flow of blood in the body which will result in heart palpitations. Having an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can lead to a number of health conditions and can even be fatal.
Low potassium levels are dangerous to a human body and so are high potassium levels. If your potassium levels are too high, medication like Lokelma might be prescribed to help treat high levels of potassium in the blood and the symptoms that occur.