{"id":14472,"date":"2020-03-30T03:58:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T03:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14472"},"modified":"2021-05-06T18:37:34","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T18:37:34","slug":"14-common-causes-of-low-potassium-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-low-potassium-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Low Potassium Levels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A person who has low potassium levels might be diagnosed with hypokalemia. Potassium is an important mineral that the body needs to work effectively. It helps the cells of the body get the proper amount of nutrients, allows your muscles to move, and also helps the nerves send signals throughout the body. If you have low potassium levels, it can cause many other health issues. Your heart is the most important user of potassium, and without enough of it, your blood pressure may go way up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons that you may develop low potassium levels. Most of the time, potassium will exit the body through the digestive tract. Low potassium levels or hypokalemia is always caused by an underlying illness and never develops independently. If your bloodwork comes back with low potassium levels, your doctor will look for the underlying cause. Here are 14 common causes of low potassium levels. 
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1. Specific Syndromes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Several syndromes might be the cause of a potassium deficiency. Two of the more common syndromes that cause low levels of potassium are Bartter syndrome and Cushing\u2019s syndrome<\/a>. Fanconi syndrome, Liddle Syndrome, and Gitelman syndrome are also common causes of low potassium levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who are diagnosed with Cushing\u2019s syndrome will develop a higher amount of cortisol in the body. This can encourage malignancies and may affect your weight. Bartter syndrome affects how salt is absorbed in the kidneys, and Fanconi syndrome is a type of anemia that is related closely to cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liddle syndrome will make the kidneys produce excess potassium, and this cannot be absorbed into the blood. At the same time, this syndrome will cause the body to retain sodium. Gitelman syndrome affects the kidneys and can cause further issues with low potassium levels. If you are diagnosed with any of these syndromes, low potassium levels can exacerbate the symptoms. 
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2. Folic Acid Deficiency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Female reproductive health relies on folic acid. This acid is important for all adults, as it helps promote good reproductive health. It also is important for maintaining potassium levels. People who do not have enough folic acid <\/a>from their regular diet put themselves at a higher risk for developing low potassium levels. A deficiency of folic acid may result in several congenital deformities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, it might cause a person to develop anemia if it is not taken care of in a timely fashion. Besides, low levels of folic acid can also increase a person\u2019s chances of developing clinical depression. Short term memory loss, as well as the overall effectiveness of brain function, are also common among individuals who have low levels of folic acid. Additionally, people who have low amounts of folic acid are prone to developing diseases associated with allergies. Both folic acid deficiency and low potassium levels are linked to lower bone densities. 
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3. Prolonged Vomiting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common cause of low potassium levels is vomiting for long periods. Nausea <\/a>can be caused by several different ailments or possibly because of some type of medication that you might be taking. Pregnant women also might experience bouts of nausea throughout their pregnancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illnesses and drug use may also cause a person to vomit. As you can see, there are many reasons that a person may start vomiting, and not all of them are easily known. Vomiting once or twice will typically cause a person to lose the contents of their stomach and possibly some lingering stomach acids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person experiences prolonged vomiting, it is more likely that they will develop low potassium levels. Other nutritional deficiencies might develop, as well. The body gathers vital minerals, nutrients, and vitamins from the food that you consume. When you cannot keep anything down, your body does not get the nutrients that it needs to function properly. 
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4. Diabetic Ketoacidosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes<\/a> occurs when the body does not process glucose effectively. When the body does not have enough glucose, it converts fat into energy. The body uses fat to obtain triglycerides. When the body is using fat for energy, it might cause certain acids to build up in the body. The acids are called ketones. In most cases, the ketones will exit the body through the urinary tract. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The body can use ketones as a way to feed your brain and fuel essential functions of the body. People with diabetes who cannot properly process insulin may cause elevated levels of ketones in the blood. This can result in ketoacidosis, which may be fatal if left untreated. In diabetic patients, ketoacidosis will almost always cause the person to have low levels of potassium in their blood as well. It is essential to keep your blood sugar levels in check when you have diabetes and also to make sure that you are eating a healthy diet. 
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5. Antibiotics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Antibiotics <\/a>are prescribed for many different illnesses. One of the issues with taking medications such as an antibiotic will not just target the ailment that it was prescribed for. Some antibiotics will also prevent the body from processing or producing potassium. Over the counter medications may also inhibit the body from processing potassium. Taking natural or herbal supplements can affect the body in a way that is not predictable as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, medications might be the underlying cause of low potassium levels. Some specific antibiotics will change or block the way potassium works in the body. When these antibiotics are taken for a long period, it can cause lower levels of potassium as well as other ailments related to mineral deficiencies. Some of the antibiotics that may lower potassium levels include aminoglycoside, amphotericin B, and penicillin. Most of the time, these antibiotics are only prescribed for a short amount of time because of this. 
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6. Prolonged Diarrhea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like prolonged vomiting, prolonged diarrhea may be a cause of lower levels of potassium. Diarrhea <\/a>refers to loose stools. Prolonged diarrhea will last for at least four weeks. Many ailments might cause a person to experience bouts of diarrhea. Medical treatments such as chemotherapy, travelers\u2019 diarrhea, and gastrointestinal diseases are all common causes of loose stools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like prolonged vomiting, many things can cause diarrhea, and not all of them are readily apparent. When you have diarrhea, you tend to lose everything that is in your stomach, along with a lot of the water that you have consumed throughout the day. When you have diarrhea for long periods, there is a good chance that you will develop low potassium levels along with other nutritional deficiencies. If you are suffering from diarrhea, your body is not getting the nutrients that it needs to operate efficiently. 
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7. Alcohol<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Drinking a lot of alcohol <\/a>in a short amount of time has several predictable side effects. Vomiting, lack of coordination, headaches, and other hangover symptoms are all common after a night of drinking heavily. Occasional nights of heavy drinking is not something that will necessarily cause you to have low potassium levels. However, regularly drinking alcohol can negatively affect your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinking alcohol regularly can cause several diseases of the stomach, pancreas, liver, and esophagus. When individual systems of the body are compromised as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, it is common for potassium levels to become low as a secondary issue from these complications. Your liver\u2019s main function is to process poison from the body, but drinking too much alcohol can prevent this from happening. Your pancreas also plays a key role in keeping your body healthy; when the pancreas malfunctions, hypokalemia is likely to appear next. 
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8. Low Magnesium<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium <\/a>is another nutrient that is essential to keep your body functioning properly. This electrolyte helps to maintain potassium levels in the bloodstream, among other things. When there is not enough magnesium in your body, you might develop a condition known as hypomagnesemia. A deficiency of magnesium occurs when there is less than 2 mg of magnesium per deciliter of blood in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some people, low magnesium levels will not result in any negative side effects. However, when this condition is left untreated, it might cause a person also to have lower potassium levels. Some of the common signs of low magnesium levels include tingling in the extremities and muscle twitching. If you have low magnesium levels and do not seek treatment, it can result in many health issues. Low magnesium levels may result in low potassium and calcium levels as well. When your body is missing these key nutrients, it can cause many types of illnesses to occur. 
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9. Excessive Water Intake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most medical experts recommend that you consume at least eight glasses of water per day. However, medical professionals also agree that it does not need to be this exact amount of water per day to remain healthy. Other factors come into play when it comes to the amount of water that you should be drinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your activity levels, and the environment that you are in, also play a role in how much water you should be consuming. The recommendation is that you should drink up to eight glasses of water per day, not exactly eight. Your body is good at letting you know when you have had enough. Drinking too much water <\/a>can have negative side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you drink too much water, it can remove some essential nutrients from the body through increased urination. One of those key nutrients is potassium. If you are consuming too much water, it is possible to have lower potassium levels as a result. 
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10. Diet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people recognize the food pyramid. When it comes to what you should be eating each day, this pyramid provides you with a good guideline. The main parts of what should be on your plate are at the bottom. What you should be eating for a well-rounded diet <\/a>does depend on some other factors such as genetics and the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people need a high protein diet, while others need a diet that is rich in healthy fats. If you are suffering from low potassium levels, there is a chance that it is because you are not getting enough from the foods that you are eating. It can be difficult to determine an exact diet that is right for you. However, eating foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients such as fruits and vegetables is certainly a good start to keeping the nutrients in your body well balanced. 
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11. Excessive Exercise<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to stay healthy, eating right and exercising are the two main things that you need. You should devote at least a few hours each week to some form of exercise<\/a>. This does not mean that you need to do several hours of intense cardio each week. The amount of exercise that you do will depend greatly on your individual needs. These needs vary from person to person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercising too little is not healthy, but exercising too much can become just as big of an issue. When you push it too far, you can risk tearing your muscles or putting too much strain on your heart, which could result in a heart attack. Also, when you exercise intensely, your body will produce more sweat. When you are excessively sweating, you might lose essential nutrients such as potassium. This can result in lower levels of potassium in your blood. 
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12. Changes in the Ways Food is Processed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, your diet is important when it comes to getting the right amount of nutrients for your body to function at optimal levels. Even people who follow a diet that seems healthy may not be getting the nutrients that they need from the foods they are eating. The reason for this is because of the way that foods are being processed. The foods that we are eating today simply do not have as many nutrients as foods from ten years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because of the use of genetic <\/a>modifications and pesticides. These changes have affected the nutritional levels of foods as well, and not in a good way. The way that food is processed today means that you may need to adjust portion sizes or add supplements to get the nutrients that your body needs. If you are following the wrong diet, it can cause you to experience several conditions, such as low potassium levels.\u00a0
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13. Underlying Heart Conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the health of your heart, potassium can be directly linked to how healthy your heart is. Potassium is often prescribed as a supplement to help with many health conditions that affect the heart. If you have an underlying heart condition, it could draw extra nutrients from the body. A heart condition might draw more potassium from the blood<\/a>, which might result in lower levels of the nutrient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your body has low potassium levels, it is likely to cause even more health issues, some of them could even become fatal if they are left untreated. Some signs that you might have a heart condition include pain in your chest, night sweats, numbness, and shortness of breath. Your family history is a good indicator of whether or not you are prone to having heart conditions. It is important to seek medical attention for these symptoms right away as they need to be addressed quickly. 
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14. Malabsorption<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are eating a healthy diet and you are still having symptoms of a mineral deficiency, it could be because you are struggling with another health condition known as malabsorption. This occurs when your body simply is not absorbing nutrients in the way that it should. Some health conditions that may result in malabsorption <\/a>include digestive conditions or chronic gut issues. Any type of disease that affects the lining of the stomach may cause issues with the absorption of nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have one of these diseases that affect the way that your body absorbs nutrients, there is a good chance that you will also suffer from low potassium levels. If you are experiencing absorption issues even when you are eating right and are taking supplements, your body will mimic symptoms of malnutrition. Anemia and weight loss are common symptoms of malabsorption. It is important to speak to your doctor about these issues so that an appropriate plan of action can be made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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