My doctor just called to tell me I am VERY low in potassium and is putting me on pills for it. How important?

Question

is potassium? I have had a chest cold and it seems weird this is what they found in my blood work, does it have to do with helping my cold? I guess I am just confused,

Answer 1

it's unlikely that the potassium pills will hurt. having low potassium puts you at risk for having arrhythmias which can lead to heart attacks - if you were in the hospital we would replete your potassium intravenously - so it's probably a good idea to take it.

you should probably have it rechecked after taking potassium for a week or two, to make sure that it's not being caused by some other process.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

The low potassium may have nothing to do with your cold at all, unless you are having flu-like symptoms, such as vomiting & diarrhea (which would cause potassium loss). The low potassium may have occurred without any relation to the cold. They may have discovered it, by chance, by doing the routine lab workup.

Answer 4

Very - vital, in fact.

Potassium is an essential mineral micronutrient in human nutrition; it is the major cation (positive ion) inside animal cells, and it is thus important in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.

Potassium is also important in allowing muscle contraction and the sending of all nerve impulses in animals.

A shortage of potassium in body fluids may cause a potentially fatal condition known as hypokalemia (see article for detail), typically resulting from diarrhea, increased diuresis and vomiting. Deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness, paralytic ileus, ECG abnormalities, decreased reflex response and (in severe cases) respiratory paralysis, alkalosis and arrhythmia.

So, take your pills and hope you feel better!

Answer 5

Take great care in taking potassium tablets.
Both dangerously low and high potassium can lead u to heart arrest .,though the type is different.,one can lead to systolic arrest ( ie:the heart arrest at contrating state), and one can lead to diastolic level (heart stop at relaxing state).
Ofcourse the importance of differnt degree of decrease and incease in blood potassium is different.
But please take the potassium tablets with doctor's direction ,don't take it more or less as u like.

Answer 6

Potassium is extremely important... a correct balance of electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium etc) will make your body processes more efficient.

Answer 7

u have been told enough above.........i would like to advise u to eat banans. n strawberries..these r good sources of potassium.low potassium is not at all good for health...dont get confused..i think it just rom ur blood report they got to know abt that....do care to replace that defficiency of potassium.

Answer 8

Potassium is very important! Not only does it pack of the essential vitamins but it helps you bones stay strong. you may feel weak from your cold and weaker because your bones are not getting the "fuel" that they need.
Take care of yourself hun :)

Answer 9

It can cause heart problems.