{"id":14518,"date":"2020-03-31T08:07:22","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T08:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14518"},"modified":"2021-05-07T13:44:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T13:44:09","slug":"14-common-signs-of-potassium-deficiency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-signs-of-potassium-deficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Signs of Potassium Deficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People that have low levels of potassium in their bloodstream have a condition known as hypokalemia. Potassium is one of the critical minerals that the body relies on to maintain homeostasis. Potassium helps the muscles to contract and expand, assisting the movement of your limbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potassium also helps cells absorb nutrients allowing for efficient communication of cells and the nervous system. Potassium is also especially important for proper cardiovascular function, helping to regulate blood pressure and heart rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a variety of reasons why you could be dealing with low potassium levels. One of the more common reasons for the condition is that potassium is leaving the body through the digestive system. In many cases, hypokalemia occurs due to another underlying medical issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 common signs of potassium deficiency. If you notice any of them, make sure you make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
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1.     Weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first symptoms of potassium deficiency to show up in the body is a weakness <\/a>in the muscular system and limbs. The affected individual may find that they do not have the strength to complete routine tasks that they would not usually have a problem with doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tasks such as lifting heavy objects overhead or off the floor may leave you feeling out of breath and like you spent the morning at the gym. The weakness occurs due to the low levels of potassium in the muscular system that reduced the muscle’s ability to contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The muscular system also relies on a connection with the nervous system to carry out the nervous impulses issued by the brain. With low potassium levels, the nervous system struggles to send messages to the muscular system, causing a feeling of weakness to develop in the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left undiagnosed and untreated, the patient will continue to feel a wasting effect on the muscular system, and the weakness symptoms will continue to intensify.
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2.     Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The affected individual may also notice that they start to experience extreme sensations of fatigue <\/a>throughout the day. These sensations may begin in the morning and last until they go to sleep at night. The patient will find that they struggled to remain awake in the late afternoon, and many people will want to take an afternoon nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These fatigue symptoms are often confused with other conditions, and doctors will have a hard time identifying potassium deficiency by fatigue symptoms alone. However, if you are dealing with fatigue along with any of the other common signs of potassium deficiency in this article, then the chances are that your doctor will identify them during your diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After diagnosing you for potassium deficiency, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan. In most cases, it’s possible to treat fatigue symptoms by supplementing with potassium tablets. These tablets are an affordable supplement that is essential for proper mineral balance in the body, especially for seniors.
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3.     Muscle Cramps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

the body relies on a delicate balance of electrolytes <\/a>and minerals to keep the muscular system working efficiently. When the affected individual experiences low levels of potassium in the bloodstream, it leads to inefficiencies in how the muscular system responds to control by the CNS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient will start to experience symptoms of muscle cramps throughout the day. These cramps are most common in the morning, and the patient may begin to experience the pain as soon as they stretched their legs. The calve muscles often the first affected, and the patient may experience a severe cramp depending on the levels of potassium in their bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, muscle cramps are also associated with sodium deficiency, another critical electrolyte the body relies on for homeostasis. Therefore, the chances are that your doctor will draw a blood sample from you in the consultation and send it to the lab for analysis.
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4.     Twitching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium <\/a>also plays a critical role in supporting the nervous system with the minerals it needs to communicate with all the other systems in the body. When potassium levels start to get low, the affected individual may begin to develop a twitch or a tick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twitching is entirely involuntary, and the patient may find that they cannot control it no matter how hard they focus on trying to stop it. Twitching is by no means life-threatening, and they are not any cause for severe concern of your health. However, you must speak to your doctor about the symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The doctor will check on your potassium levels via a blood test. After receiving your results, the doctor will recommend supplementing with potassium tablets to increase levels of this mineral in the bloodstream.  If left undiagnosed and untreated, the twitching may increase and spread to other regions of the body. The face and eyebrows are often the first muscle groups affected by the condition.
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5.     Constipation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium also plays a critical role in managing the digestive system<\/a>. The gastrointestinal tract operates through a peristaltic motion pulling food along the colon and intestines, expelling it from the body as feces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned in potassium, assist the muscular system, providing a highway of communication between the CNS and the gut. If the patient remains undiagnosed and untreated, they may start to experience symptoms of constipation and difficulty with passing stool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the gastrointestinal system experiences dysfunction, it can lead to severe complications with the GI tract and other biological systems within the body. If you experience constipation alongside any of the other symptoms, then arrange an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your physician will take a sample of your blood and send it to the lab for analysis. If the lab finds that your potassium levels or lower, your doctor will implement a supplement protocol to bring your Potassium levels up.
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6.     Heart Arrhythmia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, potassium plays a critical role in managing the cardiovascular system. Potassium assists communication from the CNS to the heart. Patients with low potassium levels may find that they start to experience the onset of heart arrhythmia symptoms that creates an irregular heartbeat <\/a>or flutters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients that experience these symptoms should seek assistance from a physician immediately, as the lack of communication between the CNS and the heart cells may end up causing respiratory or cardiovascular failure if potassium levels get too low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient remains undiagnosed and untreated, they run the risk of developing severe cardiovascular complications that could end up in a life-threatening situation. Therefore, if you notice any heart issues occurring, you must arrange a consultation with your doctor. The physician will draw blood and send it to a lab for analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the analysis confirms low potassium levels, then your doctor may arrange a script for potassium tablets to bring your potassium levels up to par.
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7.     Feeling Thirsty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium is a critical mineral for maintaining hydration levels in the body. Potassium works alongside sodium to maintain optimal cell function and homeostasis<\/a>. When potassium levels start to drop, the patient may notice that they begin to feel thirsty, particularly in the evening. The patient may also find that they started developing symptoms of cottonmouth during the day that causes them to drink large amounts of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, an increase in water intake may also lead to a depletion of sodium, another critical electrolyte for managing optimal cell function. The combination of potassium and sodium depletion causes cause a life-threatening situation for the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice yourself drinking more fluids during the day, then you may have a potassium deficiency. Arrange a consultation with your doctor for blood work samples that will determine the state of your potassium levels in your bloodstream. Potassium is also critical for managing the renal system, and if you are feeling thirsty, it could be a sign that your kidneys are in distress.
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8.     Urination Frequency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, potassium also plays a role in managing kidney function. Low levels of potassium will cause these organs to experience dysfunction, resulting in a potentially life-threatening situation for the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy individuals may find that they wake up once during the night to go to the toilet, especially if they drink fluids before going to bed. Patients With low potassium levels may find that they wake up periodically during the night three to four times to urinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An increase in urination frequency can occur due to numerous medical conditions. Therefore, your physician <\/a>will take a blood sample and send it to the lab for analysis. When the doctor receives the results, they will be able to determine whether it’s low potassium levels or another renal problem causing the issue.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, renal complications can have severe consequences and adverse medical outcomes for many people, especially if they have underlying health complications.
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9.     Muscular Paralysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the body relies on potassium as a critical mineral for the maintenance of the muscular system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may experience complications such as twitching <\/a>or ticks, and they may also find that they feel weak in the mornings or throughout the day. All these symptoms are common across many different mineral and electrolyte deficiencies, and it might be challenging for the doctor to identify which one is the cause of the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most patients that get a diagnosis of potassium deficiency will decide in time to receive adequate treatment for the problem. However, those individuals that remain undiagnosed and untreated may find that the muscular issues progress into a form of paralysis where they may struggle to connect the CNS and the muscular system to move around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muscular paralysis can become life-threatening if it reaches the cardiovascular system as the patient may stop breathing on their own and require the assistance of a ventilator to breathe.
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10.  Respiratory Failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium is a critical mineral for managing the muscular system<\/a> and its interactions with the CNS. When potassium levels start becoming deficient in the body, the patient may notice that they begin to develop the signs of muscular weakness and fatigue related to lower levels of the mineral in the bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient may start to notice that they feel tired during the day, and fatigue sets in early. Muscle cramps and spasms become common, and the patient may notice them throughout the day as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the patient fail to seek consultation with a medical professional, they may end up placing themselves in a life-threatening position. As the muscular system continues to weaken due to potassium deficiency, they are at risk of losing control of the cardiovascular function, resulting in a loss of the ability to breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient does not seek immediate medical treatment at this stage, they run the risk of respiratory failure occurring, which may result in death.
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11.  Vomiting and Diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium deficiency affects the way that the body handles water. As a result, the patient might start to develop symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea<\/a>. However, these symptoms are not the same as what you would expect from a disease, such as norovirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may experience the onset of one or other of the symptoms first, followed by the other. in most cases, the patient will also be dealing with nausea beforehand or stomach pains. They may find that it’s challenging to keep any food or beverages down, and even the smell of food can send them running to the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients dealing with vomiting and diarrhea should make a trip to the emergency room immediately. The symptoms can cause severe complications with the patient’s health that may end up placing them in a life-threatening situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient’s condition may also make it unsuitable for them to drive. Therefore, they will need the assistance of a family member, friend, or ambulance service to get them to the emergency room for treatment.
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12.  Dehydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration <\/a>is possibly one of the most severe complications associated with diarrhea and vomiting symptoms due to potassium deficiency. As the person loses body fluids through vomiting or diarrhea, they exacerbate the effects of dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time the person experiences vomiting or diarrhea, they lose vital body fluids that contain more minerals and electrolytes. Therefore, these minerals and electrolytes require replacement, or the patient may find themselves in a life-threatening position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After diagnosis, the doctor will look to replace the patient’s body fluids after each purge or trip to the bathroom. In critical situations, the patient may need replenishment of these fluids through an intravenous drip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient does not receive the correct treatment and replacement of these necessary minerals and electrolytes, they may end up developing seizures that eventually caused him to fall into a coma where they may die. Dehydration is possibly the most overlooked symptom during the home care of the patient.
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13.  Low Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with potassium deficiency may also find that they develop symptoms of low blood pressure<\/a>. Potassium is a critical mineral involved in maintaining heart health and cardiovascular function. When levels of this mineral become deficient, it affects the way the cardiovascular system works, reducing blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient may find that they start to experience bouts of lightheadedness as they rise from a seated or lying position. The patient may find that the lightheadedness is severe enough to make them pass out or lose their balance and fall over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t have a blood pressure monitor at home, then you should get a friend or family member to drive you to the emergency room for an emergency diagnosis. Never drive the car yourself as you could pass out behind the wheel, causing a severe accident that could hurt others and yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors will treat the condition with intravenous fluids and monitoring to ensure that your blood pressure returns to normal levels.
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14.  Arrhythmia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, potassium deficiency causes difficulties with cardiovascular function and heart rate. As a result, the patient may start to develop abnormal heartbeats, also known as arrhythmia<\/a>. Changes to your normal heartbeat are serious question for concern and require immediate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient does not receive the correct care and treatment for the condition, it may result in a life-threatening situation where they will experience cardiac arrest. However, most cases of potassium deficiency do not get this far, and doctors can pick it up before it brings in these severe symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any changes to your heartbeat outside of the small flatter from time to time, then you could be dealing with the onset of arrhythmia. If this is the case, the patient must seek immediate medical attention with a risk placing themselves in a life-threatening situation that could result in their death. 
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