Aa
Potassium Levels
What would cause a drop of potassium level from 3.9 to 3.2 in 7 months. I had blood work in August and blood work yesterday
Yes, I am an EMT and also work as a Medical Assistant at a clinic.
They tested me for both of those conditions a couple of years ago and the results were negative. They want to do it again because with my already existing heart arrythmia's the drop in potassium only makes matters worse. I have to be off of a medication (Spironolactone) for 6 weeks before they can test me though. If it's negative again I am not sure what the next step is...
They tested me for both of those conditions a couple of years ago and the results were negative. They want to do it again because with my already existing heart arrythmia's the drop in potassium only makes matters worse. I have to be off of a medication (Spironolactone) for 6 weeks before they can test me though. If it's negative again I am not sure what the next step is...
I judge from your screen name that you have had EMT training?
In any case, my mother in law suffered from a chronic low potassium problem, in spite of a good diet and supplemental potassium. She was found to have Conn's Syndrome (a benign condition, in this case). You could google that, or something like 'primary aldosteronism.' If you have had some physiology classes, it should be easy to understand.
In any case, my mother in law suffered from a chronic low potassium problem, in spite of a good diet and supplemental potassium. She was found to have Conn's Syndrome (a benign condition, in this case). You could google that, or something like 'primary aldosteronism.' If you have had some physiology classes, it should be easy to understand.
Drops in potassium have been a real problem with me too. I have SVT's and atrial flutter which I see both a cardiologist and EP for. My cardiologist just referred me to Endocrinology for a work up to see why I keep losing potassium. They did a lab on my last Wednesday and my potassium was 3.8. two nights later I had an SVT and my potassium was 3.1. A couple of months ago I had it checked at it was 4.0 and within a few days I was in the ER with again SVT and atrial flutter and it was 2.8. This has been a frequent problem for me but so far all the testing to see why it is happening have been normal. My doctors are puzzled???
i have heart problems and i am not female,but once i start worrying about it and getting nervous,my potassium levels drop alot too. mine were measured at 2.9 i think once. you shouldnt worry about this. i dont know if supplements will really help here.
PS since taking Potassium supplements and adding that salt substatute nusalt? sp it has alot of potassium of course as per my doc, i have minimal PVC-PAC a day i didnt get many maybe 15-20 a day but im down to maybe 5 that i feel and some days i dont feel any. Just be sure to get your doc to help get you on the right amount of potassium because if someone has unkown underlying kidney problems it could cause major problems.
Hello,
I read your other post and I'm commenting here because i had a similiar incident this past November, my heart rate began to jump from around 84 to 155 and higher up to 200 i tried to vagal manoeuvres to try and calm it down but it sustained at a high rate, of course it calmed down when i got to the hospital so no actual diagnoses and the strips the ambulance attendants got say i was in sinus rhythm even at 188bpm? My point is the only thing they found was low potassium and mine was at 3.2 as well. The emerg doc's never even brought this up to me. My family doc wrote it off as well and said it wouldnt have caused my rapid heart rate. Fast forward and alot of manipulating to see an arrhytmia doctor due to short burst of a heart rate of 200 plus. Turns out i have reactive hypoglycemia and my incredibly fast sugar drops cause my body to release adrenaline, adrenaline caused by this or other factors such as stress eat up potassium in our bodies and guess what a potassium level of 3.2 can cause arrhytmia esp when its not the norm for our body. Any way ive upped my potassium intake and take 1 600mg potassium supplement twice a day and have been run free for almost 2 months hope i dont jinx myself and take care!
Mike
I read your other post and I'm commenting here because i had a similiar incident this past November, my heart rate began to jump from around 84 to 155 and higher up to 200 i tried to vagal manoeuvres to try and calm it down but it sustained at a high rate, of course it calmed down when i got to the hospital so no actual diagnoses and the strips the ambulance attendants got say i was in sinus rhythm even at 188bpm? My point is the only thing they found was low potassium and mine was at 3.2 as well. The emerg doc's never even brought this up to me. My family doc wrote it off as well and said it wouldnt have caused my rapid heart rate. Fast forward and alot of manipulating to see an arrhytmia doctor due to short burst of a heart rate of 200 plus. Turns out i have reactive hypoglycemia and my incredibly fast sugar drops cause my body to release adrenaline, adrenaline caused by this or other factors such as stress eat up potassium in our bodies and guess what a potassium level of 3.2 can cause arrhytmia esp when its not the norm for our body. Any way ive upped my potassium intake and take 1 600mg potassium supplement twice a day and have been run free for almost 2 months hope i dont jinx myself and take care!
Mike
That is a slight variation and probably not significant, unless it stays at that level or drops lower and *stays* there on repeated tests. You don't want to see it go below about 3.0 millimoles/liter.
Poor diet, very common in women, could be responsible for a small potassium fluctuation. Diarrhea and vomiting, diuretics, and heavy drinking can cause it, too.
It's worth noting that in a young woman, a real drop in potassium always means that a serious eating disorder like bulimia should be considered.
Here is more information about the normal levels, which generally range from 3.5 and 5.0 millimoles per liter, or mmol/L:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/237001-what-are-normal-potassium-levels-in-the-human-body/#ixzz1rW9iFvad
If you're really concerned, call your doctor.
Poor diet, very common in women, could be responsible for a small potassium fluctuation. Diarrhea and vomiting, diuretics, and heavy drinking can cause it, too.
It's worth noting that in a young woman, a real drop in potassium always means that a serious eating disorder like bulimia should be considered.
Here is more information about the normal levels, which generally range from 3.5 and 5.0 millimoles per liter, or mmol/L:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/237001-what-are-normal-potassium-levels-in-the-human-body/#ixzz1rW9iFvad
If you're really concerned, call your doctor.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Community
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
