What causes low potassium levels?
Disease description:
I recently experienced dizziness and was diagnosed with calcium deficiency during a medical checkup. I would like to know what might have caused this condition?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Potassium deficiency, also known as hypokalemia, refers to a condition in which the concentration of potassium ions in the blood falls below the normal range (usually defined as less than 3.5 mmol/L). The main causes of hypokalemia include:
1. Inadequate intake: Long-term selective eating, anorexia, excessive dieting, or poor food intake and malabsorption commonly seen in patients with advanced chronic tumors may all lead to insufficient potassium intake, thereby triggering hypokalemia.
2. Excessive loss: Gastrointestinal loss: for example, prolonged diarrhea or vomiting can lead to significant loss of potassium through digestive fluids. Renal loss: conditions such as renal tubular acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, primary hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, or long-term use of diuretics (e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) can all increase potassium excretion by the kidneys, leading to reduced blood potassium levels.
3. Abnormal distribution within the body: For example, when glucose and insulin are administered together, potassium ions are promoted to rapidly enter cells, causing a sharp drop in blood potassium concentration and resulting in hypokalemia. This situation is commonly seen in conditions such as thyrotoxic periodic paralysis and alkalosis.
