{"id":12110,"date":"2019-09-04T06:53:45","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T06:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=12110"},"modified":"2021-04-29T15:14:12","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T15:14:12","slug":"15-common-causes-of-hypokalemia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-common-causes-of-hypokalemia\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Common Causes of Hypokalemia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People suffering from hypokalemia have low concentrations of potassium in their blood. Potassium is an essential mineral your body must have in order to work effectively. The mineral helps your cells to the proper amount of nutrients, helps the nerves to send signals and also allows your muscles to move. Your heart is the biggest and most important consumer of potassium, without it, your blood pressure will skyrocket among other complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a wide range of reasons that your body may develop a potassium deficiency. In most cases, your lost potassium will have exited your body via your digestive tract as opposed to any other method. Hypokalemia is always caused by another illness and it can never develop independently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are rare cases in which a person may not get enough potassium in their regular diet, however, it will present with malnutrition or mineral deficiency as opposed to hypokalemia alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Certain Syndromes<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many syndromes that can cause potassium<\/a> deficiency to develop. Syndromes such as Cushing’s syndrome and Bartter syndrome, are two of the prime causes. While Liddle syndrome, Fanconi syndrome follows not long after. Gitelman syndrome is also another common cause of hypokalemia in many patients. Cushing’s syndrome causes an increase in the amount of cortisol in your body which can affect your weight and encourage malignancies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bartter syndrome affects the way people absorb salt into the kidneys while Fanconi syndrome is a form of anemia that is closely related to cancer. Liddle syndrome makes your kidneys secrete an excess of potassium which is not absorbed into the blood while also making the body retain an excessive amount of sodium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gitelman syndrome is a disorder of the kidney that is caused by a potassium deficiency and will further cause the body to develop hypokalemia, similar to all of the ailments listed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Folic Acid Deficiency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Folic acid<\/a> is essential in maintaining female reproductive health and also important for all adults. Folate helps to promote healthy reproductive health and also will help maintain the potassium levels in the blood. People who have an inadequate intake of folic acid in their regular diet are at a higher risk of developing hypokalemia. Folic acid deficiency can result in a wide range of congenital deformities and will also cause anemia to develop if not remedied in a timely manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from hypokalemia, folic acid deficiency can encourage the onset of clinical depression in people of all age ranges. A lack of proper concentrations of folic acid in the body can also reduce the effectiveness of your brain function and cause short term memory loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people who have less folic acid than they need are more prone to developing allergy-related diseases. Folic acid deficiency and hypokalemia are also tied to lower bone densities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Prolonged Vomiting <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common causes of hypokalemia is nausea <\/a>with prolonged vomiting. Nausea may be a result of any number of ailments or even due to a course of medication such as antibiotics. Vomiting is also common in those who are suffering from nausea due to pregnancy, illness, or drug use. \u00a0There are many causes of vomiting, and not all of them are readily apparent. When a person vomits once or twice they tend to lose whatever is in their stomach at the time as well as some lingering stomach acids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person suffers from prolonged bouts of vomiting, it makes it more likely that they will develop hypokalemia and other nutritional deficiencies. Your body gathers vital nutrients, minerals, and fuel for energy from your food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are unable to keep anything down, your body will not get the nutrients it needs to function properly. In addition, vomiting also dehydrates the body and creates an electrolyte imbalance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Diabetic Ketoacidosis  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the body falls short of glucose, it will convert fat into the energy it needs to survive. The body will use fat to obtain triglycerides. When the body uses fat as an energy source, it causes a build-up of specific acids in the body. These acids are called ketones. Ketones <\/a>are a leftover acid from this conversion process. In most cases, excess ketones are removed from the body via the urinary tract. Your body can use these to fuel your essential functions and feed your brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ketosis is often found in diabetic patients who are unable to process insulin correctly or by those who do not produce enough insulin. Elevated levels of ketones in the blood can lead to ketoacidosis, which can be fatal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type 1 diabetics are more likely to develop ketoacidosis which can lead to a diabetic coma if left untreated. Ketoacidosis almost always causes hypokalemia in diabetic patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Antibiotics <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most prescription medications do more than target the ailment for which they were prescribed. There are many medications that can prevent the body from producing or processing potassium properly, People taking other over-the-counter medications can also inhibit the body\u2019s potassium processing ability. Herbal and natural supplements may also affect the body in ways that are not always predictable. Some natural foods, products, oils, and supplements may change the way your body reacts or produces potassium which can lead to the development of hypokalemia if not monitored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several specific antibiotics <\/a>directly block or change the way potassium works in the body and the concentrations in the blood. These antibiotics, when used over long periods of time, may cause hypokalemia or other mineral deficiency related ailments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some antibiotics that affect potassium in the blood are penicillin, amphotericin B, and aminoglycoside among others. Usually, these will only be prescribed for short term use as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Prolonged Diarrhea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common cause\u00a0of hypokalemia is prolonged diarrhea<\/a>. Prolonged diarrhea is loose motions that last at least four weeks. Prolonged diarrhea may be a result of any number of ailments, gastrointestinal disease, travelers diarrhea or even due to medical treatments such as chemotherapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many causes of prolonged diarrhea, and not all of them are readily apparent. When a person suffers from loose motions for a day or even a few days, they tend to lose whatever is in their stomach along with most of the water you will have consumed throughout the day. When a person suffers from prolonged bouts of diarrhea, it makes it more likely that they will develop hypokalemia, malabsorption of food. and other nutritional deficiencies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your body gathers vital nutrients, minerals, and fuel for energy from your food. When you are unable to keep in your stomach long enough to digest, your body will not get the nutrients it needs to function properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Excessive Alcohol Consumption<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Drinking too much alcohol <\/a>over a short period of time has a series of predictable side effects. Hangover, vomiting, impaired vision, and lack of coordination all come with a night of heavy drinking. While an occasional night out won\u2019t result in a potassium deficiency, regular consumption of alcohol will. Alcohol affects many of the systems in your body in a negative manner. Excessive drinking can lead to several diseases of the liver, pancreas, stomach, and esophagus among others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person\u2019s body, organs or individual systems become compromised due to excessive alcohol consumption, it is common for hypokalemia to develop as a secondary issue caused by one of those complications. Your liver processes poison out of your body, but excessive alcohol consumption can prevent that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pancreas is also a key player in the health of your body, and when it malfunctions hypokalemia is not far behind. Too much drinking also blocks the absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Low Magnesium <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium <\/a>is an essential nutrient your body needs in order to function properly. This essential electrolyte helps to maintain the balance of potassium in your bloodstream among other things. When you don\u2019t have enough magnesium in your body, you will develop a condition called hypomagnesemia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to medical science, a deficiency occurs when there are fewer than 2 milligrams of this electrolyte per deciliter of blood in your system. In some cases, having a magnesium deficiency won\u2019t result in negative side effects. However, if it is left untreated it can cause hypokalemia to develop. Common signs of magnesium deficiency are twitching of the muscles or tingling in the extremities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Untreated hypomagnesemia can result in a range of health problems such as hypokalemia and bigeminy. Hypomagnesemia will also reduce the amount of calcium and potassium in the blood. This state can be caused by various illnesses, disorders or even medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Drinking Too Much Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The majority of medical experts and health guides out there will recommend that you consume up to eight glasses of water or fluid per day. While this is true, most medical professionals have also come to agree on the fact that it doesn\u2019t have to be an exact eight glasses to be healthy, but instead depends on other factors such as the heat in the environment you find yourself and just how active you are (to know how much fluid is lost through exercise and sweating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official recommendation is that you drink up to eight glasses, not an exact eight. Your body will let you know when it\u2019s had enough of what you\u2019re giving it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some fad diets recommend drinking larger amounts of water or fluid at one point in an attempt to either \u201cfill up\u201d the stomach or \u201cdetoxify<\/a>\u201d the system. In reality, drinking more water above your recommended amount will do neither of these and can instead only remove essential nutrients like potassium from your diet through increased urination.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. A Nutrient Deficient Diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone remembers the food pyramid, and what you need to know about nutrition as an adult isn\u2019t much different from this simple diagram that most people were already taught as children. All of the building blocks \u2013 the main parts of your plate \u2013 go at the bottom, and you work your way up to the good fats, of which your diet <\/a>should contain some, but less.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you should include in your diet in order to make it a full-rounded one that\u2019s good for your health can and will depend on environmental (and sometimes genetic) factors. Some people need a fat-rich diet, others rely more on protein. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can make figuring out the right diet for you difficult. It can also mean that the diet you\u2019re following now likely is not the right one for your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A nutritionally deficient diet can be one of the causes of hypokalemia: Add supplements or adapt your diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Excess Exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Exercise <\/a>is an essential part of staying healthy and something that you should devote at least a few hours per week to doing. This doesn\u2019t mean you should go at it for several hours doing cardio, though: The level of exercise necessary for your body will depend on your body\u2019s individual needs \u2013 and these needs can differ from one person to another.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercising too little isn\u2019t healthy, but exercising too much is just as dangerous. Pushing it too far when it comes to exercise is likely to lead to other health problems, and could strain your body so much that you tear muscles or strain your heart so much that you have a heart attack in the middle of an exercise session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too much, too frequent or too intensive exercise can also increase the rate at which you sweat, which can make you lose essential nutrients like salt and potassium through your sweat glands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Changes in Food Processing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A diet that doesn\u2019t contain enough nutrients can sometimes appear perfect when looked at from far away, and all of the components and portions of the diet could be right although the nutritional deficiency <\/a>could persist. Sometimes this happens because of the fact that the foods we consume today aren\u2019t the same as they were a few decades ago \u2013 pesticides and genetic modification affect the food on a nutritional level too, and not always in good ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food is grown and processed differently than it used to be. For you, this means that portion sizes might need to be adapted (or supplements need to be added) in order to get the same nutritional value that you would have ten years ago from the same meal in the same proportions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the wrong diet, whether or not you\u2019re aware of this fact, can often times cause you to develop conditions like hypokalemia.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Underlying Heart Conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium <\/a>is a mineral that can be directly related to heart health, and it can be a prescribed supplement that helps to control many different health conditions that affect the heart. If you have any underlying heart conditions, then it could be likely that these heart conditions might draw some of the nutrients out of your body.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart conditions can lead to a natural lack of potassium in your body, which then leads to hypokalemia. This, in turn, is likely to lead to further symptoms and can be potentially fatal where it\u2019s not addressed by a doctor as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will usually be some other signs if you have any kind of heart condition that you don\u2019t know about. These signs can include chest pain, shortness of breath, night sweats and numbness \u2013 and you should often also look for a family history of heart troubles, even where they were never officially diagnosed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Malabsorption <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your diet appears to be in perfectly fine condition but you are still experiencing the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, then it\u2019s likely that you might have another health condition that\u2019s causing problems with the way in which your body absorbs nutrients. There are several different health conditions that can cause this, including the chronic gut and digestive conditions or ones that directly affect the stomach or stomach lining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a condition that affects the way in which your body absorbs vital nutrients, hypokalemia is one of the first conditions of which you will develop symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absorption problems can mean that even if your diet is right or you have already started taking supplements, your body still mimics symptoms of malnutrition. Weight loss and anemia can also be considered some of the symptoms that you will experience if you have a health condition that causes malabsorption<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speak to your doctor,<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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