Normal Potassium Levels

Hypokalemia or a low potassium level occurs when the level of potassium in your blood in lower than it should be. A normal potassium level is between 3.5 to 5.0 milliequivalents per liter or mEq/L. Having a very low potassium level of under 2.5 can be dangerous and is a situation that calls for the seeking out of medical attention.

Symptoms of Low Potassium Levels in the Blood

Without a doubt, knowing the symptoms of hypokalemia can help you to make informed decisions about your health. The symptoms of low potassium levels in the blood include weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, constipation, chills, insatiable thirst, abnormal heart rhythm, headaches, edema, irritability, nausea and diarrhea.

Causes of Low Potassium Levels in the Blood
Contrary to what most people believe, low potassium levels (hypokalemia) are not typically caused by eating a poor, unbalanced diet. Excessive loss of potassium is the most common reason that levels drop. Loss of potassium may occur from both the GI tract and from the kidneys.

Potassium loss from the intestines can be caused by vomiting and diarrhea. Some people who have had bowel surgery suffer from low potassium levels. A particular type of colon polyp – villous adenoma, can cause leakage of potassium through the colon. People who regularly use laxatives also can have low potassium levels as well.

Causes of low potassium from the kidneys include the use of diuretics such as Lasix and HCTZ. High corticosteroid levels from either Cushing’s Syndrome or from medicines like prednisone also cause potassium loss from the kidneys. Other causes of low potassium from the kidneys include renal tubular acidosis and low magnesium levels in the body. Other reasons why potassium levels may be low are the result from side effects of some medications including amphortericin B, nebcin and prednisone.

Some medications can cause potassium loss through the urine. The cancer drug cisplatin can cause long-term hypokalemia. Some anti-fungal medications such as amphotericin B can cause one to expel a high level of potassium out of the body through their urine. Tumors of the adrenal glands, Cushing’s syndrome and Conn’s syndrome also can lead to one having low potassium levels.

Eating disorders can also cause low potassium levels. In 1995, the American Journal of Psychiatry published the results of a study done at Yale University which found that 4.6% of people with eating disorders had hypokalemia. The low potassium levels occurred primarily in anorexics and bullimics who used laxatives or who vomited daily. The study concluded that anorexics who simply restricted their daily caloric intakeds were not at an increased risk for developing hypokalemia.