I went to the hospital with a irregular heart beat, thought I was having a heart attack. My potassium levels?

Question

were 1.0 which is very low, don't know why. I was told I had a panic attack, I say no. Was on Paxil for the last year for panic, I am almost off it, I am tapering I am down to 5 mg. I have watched my diet eating more potassium rich foods and have not had a problem since. Did I have a heart thing?I don't think it was panic. I think I had a panic attack because I was having a heart issue. What do you think?

I was 38 at the time and not really overweight, 148 5 4". I dont know why it was so low, not on any meds at the time. Now on BP meds and my BP is okay like 125 / 85 , not perfect but I'll take it. I do like to drink beer at night, but not like I drink a 1/2 a case or anything. Maybe 5-6. I do eat though, could that amount of beer depleet mt potassium levels?

Answer 1

Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can cause low potassium, called hypokalemia, because large amounts of potassium are contained in gastric fluids.
Too much insulin secretion can cause hypokalemia because insulin promotes potassium to enter skeletal muscle cells.
People with unhealthy diets are prone to hypokalemia because of poor nutrition, resulting in increased potassium loss due to illness.
If you did not have a sever diarrhea bout, are not diabetic, do not have cancer or are under chemo and were otherwise healthy, i think it was the other way around, your hypokalemia caused your heart to work inefficiently. It would be a good idea, tho, to try and find the cause because your levels were really too low, so it won't happen again.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Potassium is an element (and an electrolyte) that's essential for the body's growth and maintenance. It's necessary to keep a normal water balance between the cells and body fluids. Potassium also plays an essential role in the response of nerves to stimulation and in the contraction of muscles. Remember your heart is a muscle. Cellular enzymes need potassium to work properly. If your potassium was very low, that could affect your heart rate.

A potassium deficiency due to increased urinary loss often occurs when medication for certain heart diseases is used to prevent sodium and water retention. To overcome this loss, physicians often suggest eating more foods high in potassium. More potassium may be prescribed as a medicine.

Foods high in potassium include bananas, cantaloupe, grapefruit, oranges, tomato or prune juice, honeydew melons, prunes, molasses and potatoes. Some foods high in potassium are also high in calories. When weight control is important, eat more low-calorie foods. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products that are high in potassium and calcium, when incorporated in the DASH Diet Study, helped to significantly lower blood pressure.

Answer 4

Yes, alcohol depletes potassium levels. V-8 low sodium juice is a very good source of potassium like 13% in one glass
Low potassium levels can cause you to be tired, weak and irritable possible exacerbating a panic attack.

Answer 5

Your potassium level should be between 3.6 and 4.2, yours was way too low. Potassium had alot to do with your heart beating and being that low it definitely cause your irregular heartbeat. I would definitely want to know why your potassium was so low. Are you on medications that would deplete your potassium levels? I don't know how old you are and if you are young and not on any meds then you need to find out why.