what happened if a person has low potassium in the blood?

Question

in my blood test doctor found low potassium what does it mean?

Answer 1

~When taking water pills and not taking potassium pills, I get cramps.
Check out the link below, you'll find all the info you need. This is a learning experience for me as well, thanks.~

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Just eat more bananas.

As for low potassium, you aren't in any danger. They'll give you a supplement and nothing bad is going to happen to you as long as you remember to take it.

For people with dangerously low potassium, they will experience dizziness and will have a tendency to faint until they get their potassium levels back up to where it needs to be.

But that is only if it is very VERY low, so don't freak out now that I've said that! You'll be fine!

Answer 4

Low potassium levels can lead to cardiac arrythmias. This is because, the pacemaker cells in your heart normally are at an equlibrium with the concentration of ions inside the cells. This equilibrium translates into an electrical potential. Any loss of balance will result in the setting up of an awry current and this produces arrythmias.

Take more bananas. They are rich in potassium.

Answer 5

Potassium is tied into muscle strength. Realizing that your heart is also a muscle, low potassium has the potential to create serious problems. Early symptons may include muscle cramps and muscle weakness.

The reason for low potassium needs to be determined. If it is diuretic based, you may need potassium supplements. Your doctor is the best souce of information for cause and solution.

Answer 6

That is called hypokalemia.
The effects of low serum potassium tend to depend on just how low the potassium is.
Here is an excellent review:
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic273.htm

Answer 7

When your nerves send relay messages throughout your body sodium and potassium are very important in the synapses(the gaps in between individual nerves). When you are low on either sodium or postassium you are likely to experience nerve pain such as cramping especially when performing in physical activities.

Answer 8

i think it makes you a little more anemic then most other times. Therefore your doctor probably gave your pot. med.s so take them and you'll get to feeling better. Also makes you kind of warn out feeling, and i think has something to do with your immune system - the RBC's and WBC's who they distribute. You can also have to have a blood transfusion if it gets crit. enough. Go to a website and look up low pot. levels- it'll tell you all about it. good luck and i hope all turns out well.

Answer 9

either you're not taking in enough potassium via oral dietary intake or else your kidneys are excreting too much out.

if it's lack of dietary intake, eating bananas will help.
normally functioning kidneys wouldn't excrete out too much potassium- it usually happens if you're on diuretic medications like furosemide or hydrochlorthiazide.

Answer 10

Any time your electrolytes (sodium and pottasium) are out of balance, it can also affect your heart, as these imbalances can cause arrhythmias.