Low potassium, sometimes referred to as hypokalemia, is a medical condition where the patient has abnormally low amounts of this mineral in his bloodstream.
This article discusses some of the general details, as well as certain particulars (like several symptoms), about this health issue.
Please remember that the information on this page is not professionally qualified medical advice, and should not be used as a substitute for such details.
If you are concerned about a possible situation involving low potassium for yourself or someone else, please contact someone who has the proper tools in order to test the individual, come to a diagnosis, and then recommend a course of treatment.
Levels of this mineral can have a strong effect on various parts of the body.
For instance, the heart needs it for blood pressure regulation.
Low potassium can also affect other muscles in the person, as well as nerves.
Generally speaking, deficient amounts can also lead to weakness.
Some additional symptoms are also possible.
Keep in mind that apparent symptoms may be different in one case as compared to the next, and that not having these does not mean that the patient does not have hypokalemia, nor does having one or more of these medical symptoms mean that he does in fact have the condition.
Constipation is one symptom that may result from low potassium levels in the blood.
Moreover, there may be nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
Vomiting can also play another role in this issue, as it can actually be a factor that leads to a loss of this mineral through the loss of fluid.