14 Frequent Symptoms of Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is a condition that develops when a person is suffering from a potassium deficiency in their bloodstream. It can result in muscle weakness and other negative health issues. Potassium deficiency never occurs on its own, it is always a side effect of medication, medical treatment, or an illness. Being that it is not an independent illness, the main condition will require treatment in order to resolve hypokalemia.

Potassium is an essential mineral your body must have in order to work effectively. The mineral helps your cells to the proper amount of nutrients, helps the nerves to send signals and also allows your muscles to move.  Most people suffering from mild cases of hypokalemia may not notice the symptoms but most cases of hypokalemia present with several other signs of being ill.

Hypokalemia is usually caused by medications or other conditions, but can also develop if there is an intracellular shift of your body’s potassium.

1. Low blood pressure 

Blood pressure is the force that your blood applies to your artery walls as it flows. If your blood pressure gets too low or remains low for an extended period of time, it can result in several health complications. If left untreated, low blood pressure can lead to various ailments such as vision loss, heart palpitations, brain damage and more. Your heart is tasked with pumping blood that is rich in oxygen to the cells and muscles of your body.

People who suffer from low blood pressure may not have enough force in their system to allow for proper circulation of oxygenated blood. The majority of people who have moderately low blood pressure may not exhibit any symptoms.

Though hypokalemia is not an independent illness, one of the most common symptoms if the ailment is low blood pressure. Your heart needs potassium in order to function properly, a deficiency can weaken its beats thereby resulting in low blood pressure.