diseases that cause low potassium levels
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- By Mayo Clinic Staff. Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause is excessive potassium loss in urine due to prescription water or fluid pills (diuretics). Vomiting or diarrhea or both can result in excessive potassium loss from the digestive tract. Only rarely is low potassium caused by not getting enough potassium in your diet.
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Low potassium (hypokalemia) In most cases, low potassium is found by a blood test that is done because of an illness, or because you are taking diuretics. It is rare for low potassium to cause isolated symptoms such as muscle cramps if you are feeling well in other respects. Low potassium symptoms may include: 1  Weakness.  Fatigue.
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Hypokalemia Hypokalemia is serum potassium concentration < 3.5 mEq/L caused by a deficit in total body potassium stores or abnormal movement of potassium into cells. The most common causes are excess losses from the kidneys or GI tract.
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- Hyperkalemia -- high potassium in your blood -- may occur if your kidneys do not work properly and cannot remove potassium from your body or if your body's cells release too much potassium. Kidney disease is the most common cause of hyperkalemia. Your kidneys help control the balance of potassium in your body.
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7 Reasons Why You Have Low Potassium Levels Why Your Potassium May Be Low. 1. Medication sides effect: Some medications for illnesses like asthma or emphysema can lower your Potassium levels. If you’re taking water pills or Aminoglycosides (an antibiotic for serious infections) you may need supplemental Potassium.
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Hypokalemia Causes. Hypokalemia can result from one or more of these medical conditions: Inadequate potassium intake. Perhaps the most obvious cause is insufficient consumption of potassium (that is, a low-potassium diet) or starvation. However, without excessive potassium loss from the body, this is a rare cause of hypokalemia. Usually only seen in anorexia nervosa patients and people on a ketogenic diet. Gastrointestinal or skin loss. A more common cause is excessive loss of potassium, often associated with heavy fluid losses that flush potassium out of the body.
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Hypokalemia (Low Potassium) 1 Endocrine or hormonal problems (such as increased aldosterone levels) - aldosterone is a hormone that regulates potassium levels. 2  Certain diseases of the endocrine system, such as Aldosteronism, or Cushing's syndrome, may cause potassium loss.ther causes of hypokalemia include: 1  Increased excretion (or loss) of potassium from your body. 2  Some medications may cause potassium loss which can lead to hypokalemia.
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Low potassium (hypokalemia) Low potassium (hypokalemia) refers to a lower than normal potassium level in your bloodstream. Potassium is a chemical (electrolyte) that is critical to the proper functioning of nerve and muscles cells, particularly heart muscle cells.
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Potassium (K) in Blood Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) symptoms. A potassium level that is too high or too low can be serious. Abnormal potassium levels may cause symptoms such as muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination, dehydration, low blood pressure, confusion, irritability, paralysis, and changes in heart rhythm.
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Hyperkalemia (High Level of Potassium in the Blood) A high potassium level has many causes, including kidney disorders, drugs that affect kidney function, and consumption of too much supplemental potassium. Usually, hyperkalemia must be severe before it causes symptoms, mainly abnormal heart rhythms.
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- But too much of it can build up in the blood and cause heart problems. The most common of causes for high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, according to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. They include acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease.
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Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) Patient Comments Read 20 Comments Share Your Story. Usually symptoms of low potassium are mild. At times the effects of low potassium can be vague. There may be more than one symptom involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, kidneys, muscles, heart, and nerves. 1  Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles, sometimes severe enough to cause inability to move arms or legs due to weakness (much like a paralysis). 2  Tingling or numbness.
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How to Recognize Symptoms of Low Potassium Your potassium level affects your nerves and communication with muscle cells in the digestive system, heart and all other muscles. Most of the body’s potassium is inside cells and the potassium level in the bloodstream is normally maintained within a specific range by the endocrine system. Hypokalemia is a medical condition in which your potassium levels are low and decreases insulin sensitivity.
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- Two types of arthritis medications may be associated with abnormal levels of potassium in the blood. Prednisone or other corticosteroids may occasionally lower the levels of potassium. This side effect is more likely to occur at higher doses.
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- Hypokalemia is a symptom or side effect of other conditions and some medications. Hypokalemia usually occurs when too much potassium is lost through urine, sweat, or bowel movements. In rare cases, hypokalemia is caused by too little potassium intake. Many things can cause potassium loss. The most common cause is the use of diuretics, or pills that cause urine production. Diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive use of laxatives can also cause symptoms. Excessive sweating due to heat or exercise can cause hypokalemia.
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- Common causes of low potassium level include: 1  Antibiotics. 2  Diarrhea or vomiting. 3  Using too much laxative, which can cause diarrhea. 4  Chronic kidney disease. 5  Diuretic medicines (water pills), used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. 6  Eating disorders (such as bulimia) 7  Low magnesium level. 8  Sweating.
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Diuretics: A cause of low potassium? Diuretics are commonly used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) because they lower blood pressure by helping your body eliminate sodium and water through your urine. However, some diuretics can also cause you to eliminate more potassium in your urine. This can lead to low potassium levels in your blood (hypokalemia). Signs and symptoms of hypokalemia include: 1  Weakness. 2  Fatigue.
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7 Reasons Why You Have Low Potassium Levels 5. Stomach or intestines lose Potassium: Excessive vomiting or diarrhea, the use of laxatives or enemas, or patients who’ve had a Ileostomy (operation removing a small segment of the small intestine to provide a new path for waste elimination) can experience low Potassium levels. 6.
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Hypokalemia (Low Potassium) Increased excretion (or loss) of potassium from your body. Some medications may cause potassium loss which can lead to hypokalemia. Common medications include loop diuretics (such as Furosemide). Other drugs include steroids, licorice, sometimes aspirin, and certain antibiotics.
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- Low potassium (hypokalaemia). Potassium is important for a person's muscles to work effectively, including the heart. Potassium also has a role in regulating blood pressure. Low potassium levels (hypokalaemia) can cause weakness as cellular processes are affected. Potassium is a mineral (electrolyte) in the body.
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- A potassium level that is too high or too low can be serious. Abnormal potassium levels may cause symptoms such as muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination, dehydration, low blood pressure, confusion, irritability, paralysis, and changes in heart rhythm.
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- Two types of arthritis medications may be associated with abnormal levels of potassium in the blood. Prednisone or other corticosteroids may occasionally lower the levels of potassium. This side effect is more likely to occur at higher doses. Moderate degrees of potassium depletion over time is often asymptomatic but patients may complain of muscle weakness. Cardiac disturbances are more likely to occur in the setting of patients who develop a low potassium level while on the medication digoxin which is used for a heart condition.
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Low potassium (hypokalemia) By Mayo Clinic Staff. Low potassium (hypokalemia) refers to a lower than normal potassium level in your bloodstream. Potassium is a chemical (electrolyte) that is critical to the proper functioning of nerve and muscles cells, particularly heart muscle cells. Normally, your blood potassium level is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention.
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- Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause is excessive potassium loss in urine due to prescription water or fluid pills (diuretics).Vomiting or diarrhea or both can result in excessive potassium loss from the digestive tract.Only rarely is low potassium caused by not getting enough potassium in your diet. Causes of potassium loss leading to low potassium include: 1  Chronic kidney disease. 2  Diabetic ketoacidosis.3  Diarrhea. 4  Excessive alcohol use. 5  Excessive laxative use. 6  Excessive sweating. 7  Folic acid deficiency.omiting or diarrhea or both can result in excessive potassium loss from the digestive tract. Only rarely is low potassium caused by not getting enough potassium in your diet. Causes of potassium loss leading to low potassium include: 1  Chronic kidney disease. 2  Diabetic ketoacidosis. 3  Diarrhea. 4  Excessive alcohol use.