Will low potassium cause symptoms of a heart attack+?

Question

Symptoms started with uneasy feeling, then tingling from knees up, then trememdous pressure in chest (didn't hurt-but just extreme pressure)....then my arms, hands, and face drew up....which made it hard for me to talk......(just before this happened I had had a starbucks coffee).....could the caffine have had something to do with this also?) Emegency room did EKG & x-rayed my lungs checking for blood clots & did blood test........then only thing that come back was that my potassium was extremely low.....(also I have been on a diet for approx. 2 weeks which also may have had something to do with this.......has anyone ever experienced this?

Answer 1

Yes mam,potassium can cause a heart attack.When u on a diet u have to eat things that u really need. Potassium,iron,calcium,etc.The answer to your question yes it could. When I was on this blood pressure med about 3 years ago. I went to the E.R. Cuz my heart was racing they check my potassium it was at 3.0. Ever since I get it check all the time,the doctors think I'm crazy. Now its 4.5. But one more thing make sure it doesn't gets to high because hig potassium can cause a heart attack as well. Just eat bananas like 2 a day Potassium levels shoundn't drop below 3.5 and shouldn't go above 5.1

Answer 2

Low Potassium Symptoms Heart

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Low potassium will affect the ability of the heart to work properly. If a patient is on a cardiac monitor you can see a variety of changes. I have seen an increase in PVCs, and PACs, an irregular heart rate, and even where the patient's heart rate will suddenly slow down and after a few seconds speed back up. I have never seen it cause other symptoms of a heart attack such as chest pain, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, sweating, etc. This does not mean that it wouldn;t happen. Every person is different and will respond different to low levels of potassium. I hope this helps!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

High Potassium levels will certainly cause a heart attack but there are alot of factors that will cause a heart attack so one cannot say in L's case if high potassium caused it or not unless one were L's doctor and looking at L's bloodwork from when L presented to the hospital with the heart attack.

Answer 7

Just like calcium is important for bones, it is also important for muscle function, and the heart is a muscle. Potassium works hand in hand with calcium so because of this, severly low levels of potassium could cause heart problems. Eating a banana a day can do wonders, or even a glass of orange juice, they're both high in K (potassium).

Answer 8

I had tachycardia because of low potassium, it also led to extreme shortness of breath, dizziness. When i was given IV potassium, the tachycardia stopped, and after oxygen the shortnesss of breath resolved.
As someone already mentioned, be careful not to go overboard eating too much potassium rich food as this can be just as dangerous.

Answer 9

I don't know about a heart attack, but I do know that I experience a lot of irregular heart rhythms when my potassium levels are low.

Answer 10

When I was in the hospital last year after surgery, I had low potassium. They told me it could affect my heart.

They gave me potassium through an IV drip. Hurt like the devil going in. In fact, I was crying. Pray you don't need this done.

Go eat a banana