What problems can be associated with low potassium level?!
Question: Friend of mine was put in hospital was saying she had been having palpations and shortness of breath. Also says her muscles in her arms in legs are tight and having muscle cramps like she has just worked out. In the hospital she was told her heart was fine but her potassium was low. My friend is still not feeling better says she is still light headed and feels like she can't breath. What other things can low potassium do to a person that perhaps needs to be looked at concerning health issues.
Answers: Friend of mine was put in hospital was saying she had been having palpations and shortness of breath. Also says her muscles in her arms in legs are tight and having muscle cramps like she has just worked out. In the hospital she was told her heart was fine but her potassium was low. My friend is still not feeling better says she is still light headed and feels like she can't breath. What other things can low potassium do to a person that perhaps needs to be looked at concerning health issues.
A low potassium level or (Hypokalemia) can cause many problems but can be fixed quite easily. Your friend should be hooked up to an IV bag now receiving Potassium in conjunction with regular IV fluid. Muscle cramping, muscle weakness, and palpatations are normal side effects of this deficiency. Other side effects include constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Cardiac dysrhythmias are not good to have (this is not the same thing as palpatations), but your friends is being monitored for dysrhythmias I am almost certain. She should be on a heart monitor in the hospital. The shortness of breath isn't really a side effect of this deficiencty and may be related to something else (or might be stress induced, from anxiety). Potassium has a lot to do with the heart and regulating its beating. Please realized having too much potassium can be just as bad, so do not over do the potassium, the hospital should know what they are doing with your friend and just following their instructions is the best thing to do. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything else on yahoo messanger --- jjcuccioiii
Estimated Minimum Requirements 2000 mg/day for adults and adolescents.
Potassium is essential for the body