Low Potassium
(Hypokalemia)

Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• What is is potassium?
• What are the causes of low potassium  (hypokalemia)?
• What are the symptoms of low potassium?
• How is low potassium diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for low potassium?
• How can low potassium be prevented?
• Patient Discussions: Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - How Was Diagnosis Established

What is is potassium?

Small chemicals in the body known as electrolytes are crucial for cells to function. Potassium is one of the main electrolytes, and is concentrated within the cells of the body. Only 2% of the body's total potassium is available in the serum (the fluid part of the bloodstream that is not red or white blood cells or platelets). Small changes in the serum levels of potassium can affect body function. One of the important functions of potassium is maintenance of the cell electrical potential. The serum bathes the cells, and if the serum potassium level falls, cells with high electrical activity (for example, muscles and nerves) are particularly affected.

Normal potassium levels measured in the serum range from 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/liter. Normal daily intake of potassium is 70-100 mEq (270 to 390 mg/dl), and requires the kidneys to remove that same amount each day. If more is removed, the body's total potassium store will be decreased, and the result is hypokalemia (hypo=low + kal=potassium +emia= in the blood) occurs.

Potassium enters the body through dietary intake. Examples of potassium rich foods include:

• Fresh fruits: bananas, cantaloupe, oranges, strawberries, kiwi, avocados, apricots
• Fresh vegetables: greens, mushrooms, peas, beets, tomatoes
• Meats: beef, fish, turkey,
• Juices: Orange, prune, apricot, grapefruit

Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) - How Was Diagnosis Established

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

How was the diagnosis of your low potassium (hypokalemia) established?

Anonymously share your comment to help others.
See 5 Viewer Comments

Submit Your Comment

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Electrolytes - Electrolytes in the body need to be maintained for bodily fluid function. Electrolytes are lost through bodily secretions such as sweat, diarrhea, vomiting. Source:MedicineNet Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - Read about the Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) procedure to test the electrical activity of the heart. Source:MedicineNet Muscle Cramps - Get information on muscle cramps causes (vitamin deficiency, drugs, lactic acid, dehydration, low calcium, potassium or magnesium), treatment and prevention. Source:MedicineNet Read 17 more Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection