Do you consider yourself sufficiently potassium-rich? How can you know whether your body is deficient in potassium? Here are a few signs that your body exhibits due to potassium deficiency.

A potassium deficit can happen if the body loses more potassium than it consumes or if the digestive tract is unable to absorb enough of this mineral. As a result, potassium levels drop, which can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and other health issues. Potassium is a mineral that aids in the electrical activity of your heart, allowing it to contract and relax. It also aids in the regulation of fluid levels in your body, so getting enough potassium in your diet is critical. The most prevalent causes of potassium insufficiency are kidney illness or type 1 diabetes, both of which are associated with high blood pressure. However, if you don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables, you could develop a shortfall in this nutrient. In rare instances, a severe deficiency could result in cardiac arrest. Read out the most common signs and symptoms that people experience due to potassium deficiency.

9 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY:

1. Muscle weakness and cramps:

Muscle weakness is the most typical symptom of low potassium; if your muscles are weak and crampy, it could be because your body does not have enough potassium to keep them functioning properly. Muscular weakness can also be caused by a lack of magnesium, another mineral needed for muscular growth, but this is less common than low potassium levels. Some people are more likely than others to develop a potassium deficit. People who use diuretics or laxatives, as well as individuals with high levels of aldosterone, fall into this category. People who consume an excessive quantity of salt, as well as women who have heavy menstrual cycles as a result of pregnancy or birth control pills, are more susceptible to potassium deficiency and have muscle cramps more frequently.

2. Fatigue:

Potassium insufficiency can occur as a result of excessive fluid loss in the body, such as during extended diarrhoea, vomiting, or sweating, if the body is unable to restore the potassium lost. Excessive tiredness is one of the signs of a potassium shortage. People who are deficient in this mineral feel light-headed after standing up rapidly or weak during physical activity such as stair climbing.

3. Digestive issues:

Potassium deficiency can result in digestive issues such as gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are possible side effects. A deficiency of this vitamin affects the muscles of your intestines and colon. Potassium aids in the regulation of food flow through your digestive tract by encouraging the release of digestive juices from your stomach and pancreas, as well as bile from your gallbladder. It’s possible that these organs won’t produce enough digestive enzymes to properly break down food if you don’t consume enough potassium. As a result, some food components may pass through the digestive system too slowly or pass through it too rapidly without being thoroughly digested.

4. Constipation:

Constipation is another prevalent complaint. For optimal kidney function, potassium to sodium ratios must be balanced at least two to one. Most individuals get too much sodium and not enough potassium in their diets, which causes dehydration and constipation. Constipation can also come from inadequate food digestion, which can be attributed to a lack of potassium.

5. Abnormal heartbeat:

An interruption in the heart’s regular electrical activity, which alters the heartbeat rate, leads to aberrant heart rhythms. A recent study discovered that a potassium shortage might induce an irregular heartbeat. High blood potassium levels are associated with a lower heart rate, while low blood potassium levels are associated with an elevated heart rate.

6. Bone loss and Numbness:

A potassium shortage is more common in those who follow a high-protein diet. If you don’t consume enough potassium in your diet, your body will take potassium from your bones to meet its demands. This can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis, thereby raising your risk of fracture. Potassium insufficiency can also induce numbness in the arms and legs as a result of nerve damage caused by low potassium levels. The exact etiology of this nerve injury is unknown, but it may be related to low blood pressure caused by a lack of potassium.

7. Breathing problems:

A potassium deficit can cause breathing problems, especially if you have a kidney illness or an eating disorder that causes potassium loss. Lack of potassium may result in a condition called hyperkalemia, which raises blood acidity and reduces your body’s capacity to pump blood, which can cause breathing problems. Potassium is essential for the contraction of all muscles, including those in your heart and lungs.

8. High blood pressure:

Potassium aids in the maintenance of normal blood pressure. A lack of potassium might raise your chances of having high blood pressure by causing your body to retain sodium. Sodium raises the quantity of water in your blood vessels, increasing their capacity and making it more difficult for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. When your kidneys detect low potassium levels in your blood, they respond by retaining more sodium and water to compensate for the deficit; this activity results in high blood pressure, often known as hypertension.

9. Polyuria:

Polyuria is a condition in which a person needs to urinate frequently. It may also be defined as an unusually large volume of urine. A potassium deficit produces polyuria, or excessive urination, because the kidneys absorb more sodium. Potassium also aids in water balance regulation in the body by acting as a counterbalance against sodium and chloride. When there is inadequate potassium in the blood, excess fluid is lost in the urine, resulting in dehydration and other health concerns such as drowsiness and fatigue.

These are only a few signs that your body shows to indicate potassium deficiency. However, it’s important to visit your doctor or healthcare professional, and you shouldn’t try self-diagnosing or treating yourself with medications without consulting your doctor.

Information credits: YouTube: 9 Signs You Have A Potassium Deficiency

Image source: https://images.app.goo.gl/vxNs49zbBtTiLt5S7

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