Low Potassium
|
|
|
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
- Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) Overview
- Low Potassium Causes
- Low Potassium Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Low Potassium Diagnosis
- Low Potassium Treatment
- Low Potassium Self-Care at Home
- Low Potassium Medical Treatment
- Low Potassium Follow-up
- Low Potassium Prevention
- Low Potassium Prognosis
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - Causes
- Viewer Comments: Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - How Was Diagnosis Established
Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) Overview
Low potassium levels (hypokalemia), can cause weakness as cellular processes are impaired.
Potassium is a mineral (electrolyte) in the body. Almost 98% of potassium is found inside the cells. Small changes in the level of potassium that is present outside the cells can have severe effects on the heart, nerves, and muscles.
Potassium is important to maintain several bodily functions:
- Muscles need potassium to contract.
- The heart muscle needs potassium to beat properly and regulate blood pressure.
The kidney is the main organ that controls the balance of potassium by
removing excess potassium into the urine.
When potassium levels are low (hypokalemia), you can become weak as cellular processes are impaired.
- The normal potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L (mEq/L stand for milliequivalents per liter of blood and this is a measure used to evaluate the level). Low potassium is defined as a potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L.
- Almost one out of five people hospitalized in the United States has a low
potassium level.
- People with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, patients with AIDS, alcoholics, and those who have had bariatric surgery have a higher incidence of hypokalemia than others.
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - Causes
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
What was the cause of your low potassium?
Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - How Was Diagnosis Established
The eMedicineHealth physician editors asked:
How was the diagnosis of your low potassium (hypokalemia) established?
Weight Loss Wisdom
Get tips, recipes and inspiration.
From WebMD
Nutrition and Healthy Eating Resources
Featured Centers
- Ask the Nutritionist: Weight Loss Tips
- Which Drugstore Tooth Whiteners Work Best?
- Gout: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)
Vomiting and Nausea Overview
Vomiting and nausea are not illnesses but common symptoms that accompany with many diseases and conditions. The problems with nausea and vomiting are related to the cause. Nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, seasickness, food poisoning, or cancer therapy can result in loss of water and electrolytes, which can lead to dehydration. Vomiting and nausea known as morning sickness may occur during pregnancy.
- Nausea is an unpleasant, queasy feeling in the throat or stomach that may result in vomiting.
- Vomiting is emptying the stomach as a result of strong gagging and retching that leads to throwing up. The stomach's contents are forcefully expelled through the mouth. Vomiting can come in waves as the natural movement (muscle contractions of the digestive system known as peristalses) is reversed, and involuntary contractions in the walls of the stomach and esophagus force the stomach contents out. Sometimes coughi...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Hypokalemia »
Potassium, the most abundant intracellular cation, is essential for the life of the organism.
Featured Topics
Medical Dictionary
Pill Identifier on RxList
- quick,
easy,
pill identification
Find a Local Pharmacy
- including
24 hour
pharmacies

