Potassium is an important mineral used by the body to function. Low blood potassium (hypokalemia) is a condition in which the body is not getting enough potassium. Usually, hypokalemia is not caused by a poor diet. However, it can be caused by many diseases and conditions, for example, medications (diuretics and prednisone), chronic kidney disease, low magnesium, sweating, diarrhea due to laxative abuse, and renal artery stenosis.
Signs and symptoms of low potassium in the blood include heart palpitations (abnormal heart rhythm disorders like arrhythmias, and muscle weakness, cramps, and aches. Usually, people with short-term self-limited illnesses, for example, the stomach flu with nausea and vomiting, recover on their own. However, in severe cases you may be hospitalized, and possibly die.
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