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potassium is an ion (K is standard abriviation)
in your blood, along with sodium (Na)
They must be in a sort of balance (lots of K in the cells, lots of Na in the blood) for your cells to function (and for you to live).
Low potassium is usually dietary but can be a renal (kidney) problem.
==Answer ==
Potassium is an essential nutrient for the body. It is used for (among other things) nerve production, blood pressure, and your metabolism. Good sources of potassium are potatoes and bananas. Our kidneys can not reserve potassium, so we must always replenish.
I've seen better, but this is pretty good:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Jirves1.html
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoMy dr. Informed me that this is common in women. There are no particular reasons why, but it does occur in a lot of women and they never even realize it. Sure signs are cramps,vascular spasms, fatique, cracked, painful lips on corners where the lips meet. Ways to bring it up,eat a bananna,sweet potatoes, coconut water, or other foods high in potassium.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoLow potassium (represented by levels lower than 3.5 mEq/L in an adult) is a serious condition. It is essential for the transmission of electrical impulses in cardiac and skeletal muscle. It also functions in enzyme reactions and helps maintain the acid-base balance of the body.
Low serum (blood) potassium (K) levels cause symptoms of thirst, increased urination, low blood pressure, weak pulse, decreased reflexes, decreased appetite, vomiting, and cardiac abnormalities (depressed T waves and ventricular ectopy on an ECG)
Reference:
Davis' Comprehensive Laboratory and Diagnostic Handbook, 4th edition
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoLow potassium levels (hypokalemia), can cause weakness as cellular processes are impaired. Potassium is a mineral (electrolyte) in the body. Almost 98% of potassium is found inside the cells. Small changes in the level of potassium that is present outside the cells can have severe effects on the heart, nerves, and muscles. Potassium is important to maintain several bodily functions: Muscles need potassium to contract. The heart muscle needs potassium to beat properly and regulate blood pressure. The kidney is the main organ that controls the balance of potassium by removing excess potassium into the urine.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoeating the wrong foodan not drinking enough water
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe body cannot produce minerals it can extract them in various ways and efficiencies from the nutrients that the body metabolizes.
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What health benefits does potassium nitrate have?
What causes low potassium and what are the dangers of having low potassium in your body
How do you treat high potassium levels?
well if people would just use common sense they could just as easily go to a health food store and ask a employee if they know what you could do to raise your potassium levels. or you could just go and see a food nutrientist an ask them. or just eat bananas and apricots or some kind of fruit that is full of potassium.
Why do you give potassium in hyperglycemia?
Potassium levels often drop initially via increased urine output from the hyperglycemia caused osmotic diuresis. To make matters worse, the insulin, that will undoubtedly be used to treat the hyperglycemia, will also pull the free floating potassium into cells, and out of the blood stream where the body cannot utilize the potassium. This can result in cardiac arrhythmias and death. Therefore potassium must be administered with insulin to treat severe hyperglycemia, even when potassium levels don't seem critically low.
What effect does too little potassium?
Low levels of potassium interfere with cellular processes, causing general weakness, heart problems and blood pressure issues.
What is protassium use for?
Potassium is sometimes used to treat low potassium levels in humans. It is also used in fertilizer and plant foods along with uses in soaps.
Can alcoholism cause low potassium levels?
Yes. 1) alcoholics tend to be malnourished in the first place, and 2) alcohol acts as a diuretic in the body "flushing" out excess levels of potassium.
Can low potassium levels cause blood to thicken?
Yes
Does potassium cause leg cramps?
Potassium is a key electrolyte in muscle contraction. So if your potassium levels or low or high it can cause cramps. Sara, RN
Does spirinolactone causes hypokalaemia?
No, it has the potential to cause HYPERkalemia, or high plasma potassium levels. There are other diuretics that cause low potassium, or hypokalemia, but spironolactone is not one of them.
What can you eat to lower your potassium?
Thank you for the correction. See link and article information below. ------ Correction: I'm not sure, metabolically you have correctly answered this. I'm not a doctor or anything even remotely close but what I can tell you is that sodium and potassium do cause reactions but not as stated above. Low sodium levels cause High potassium and High sodium Levels cause Low potassium. If a person has be diagnosed with HIGH potassium then greater than 5.0 mg then they should go to their doctor. There are many things that can contribute to high potassium so I would verify this first. here are some articles to back my information: http://charles_w.tripod.com/blood.html http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/potassium-k-in-blood?page=2
What are the side effects associated with using burdoch root?
Large doses may cause potassium levels in the body to drop too low. Possibility of allergic reactions.
Does Ice chewing cause low potassium?
No, ice chewing does not cause one to have low potassium. If you have low potassium, you need to talk with your doctor.
Does too much potassium cause heart attack?
Yes. To much intake can be harmfull but elevated potassium levels in the body can cause irregular heart beats, cardiac arrhythmia, tachycardia and even heart attack. It depends on the kidney function as well. Excess boday potassium in the body is passed out through urine. But kidney failure or a underfunctioning kidney can cause excess potassium to bould up and cause heart attack. Elevated potassium levels is called Hyperkalemia and low potassium levels are called Hyporkalemia. Both are dangerous.
Can low potassium cause muscle pain?
Yes, low potassium may cause muscle pain.
What does potassium and chlorine make when combined?
Potassium Chloride- used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia). Potassium levels can be low as a result of a disease or from taking certain medicines, or after a prolonged illness with diarrhea or vomiting.
What is one use of potassium?
One use of potassium is that it can treat or prevent low blood levels of potassium.
What health benefits does potassium nitrate have?
What causes low potassium and what are the dangers of having low potassium in your body
