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What Do These Serum Potassium Levels Indicate?
Question: XXXXX
From my prior doc visits am wondering if I need to be concerned about my potassium ...here are the dates and levels...is this something concerning?
9/15/14 - 3.5
9/20/14 - 4.4
1/24/15 - 3.3
1/28/15 - 3.9
2/9/15 - 3.6
2/25/15 - 3.5
The scale they are using says 3.6 - 5 is normal.
No one ever mentioned to me that they were low until the other day (2/25) and said it was "nothing to worry about".
Wondering why no one, not ANYONE said anything to me prior to the other day and that was ONLY because I saw everything in blue (on the computer in the room as nurse was entering info) and this one red number / line popped up in RED and I asked what it was and that's when she said about the low potassium.
I learned just today that I do not eat any potassium rich foods except the occasional banana. After searching on the for foods that are good sources of potassium.
All other labs are normal (I checked every single test result for each of the dates above).
Wondering if this is could be normal for me (found another result from a while ago that was 3.7) or if this could be something really bad. Am hoping its not something bad...
From my prior doc visits am wondering if I need to be concerned about my potassium ...here are the dates and levels...is this something concerning?
9/15/14 - 3.5
9/20/14 - 4.4
1/24/15 - 3.3
1/28/15 - 3.9
2/9/15 - 3.6
2/25/15 - 3.5
The scale they are using says 3.6 - 5 is normal.
No one ever mentioned to me that they were low until the other day (2/25) and said it was "nothing to worry about".
Wondering why no one, not ANYONE said anything to me prior to the other day and that was ONLY because I saw everything in blue (on the computer in the room as nurse was entering info) and this one red number / line popped up in RED and I asked what it was and that's when she said about the low potassium.
I learned just today that I do not eat any potassium rich foods except the occasional banana. After searching on the for foods that are good sources of potassium.
All other labs are normal (I checked every single test result for each of the dates above).
Wondering if this is could be normal for me (found another result from a while ago that was 3.7) or if this could be something really bad. Am hoping its not something bad...
Brief Answer:
Mild hypokalemia; potassium-rich foods.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
welcome to HCM.
Sorry for the delayed response.
I have gone through details and understand your concerns.
Your serum potassium are mostly within normal limits except 3.3 which is slightly low.
These levels fall into the range of mild hypokalemia (levels ranging from 3.0-3.6 meq/l)
Mild hypokalemia usually does not cause any physical symptoms and can be corrected by taking food rich in potassium like bananas, coconut water, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and oranges.
Here, I would also like to tell you some common causes which can cause low potassium levels:
Low potassium containing food intake,
Diarrhea,
Excessive sweating,
Vomiting,
Drugs like diuretics and antibiotics,
If you have any of these causes, you must consult your doctor for management.
(Please note that this not the comprehensive and complete list of causes of hypokalemia. Since you have most other investigations normal, probability of other potential causes which can cause severe hypokalemia is low).
To sum up,
Just eat potassium rich foods.
Do not worry with these potassium levels.
If you have any of the common causes which I mentioned above, Consult your doctor for treatment.
Hope this helps you.
Sorry again for the late response.
Feel free to ask further.
I wish you good health.
Thanks.
Mild hypokalemia; potassium-rich foods.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
welcome to HCM.
Sorry for the delayed response.
I have gone through details and understand your concerns.
Your serum potassium are mostly within normal limits except 3.3 which is slightly low.
These levels fall into the range of mild hypokalemia (levels ranging from 3.0-3.6 meq/l)
Mild hypokalemia usually does not cause any physical symptoms and can be corrected by taking food rich in potassium like bananas, coconut water, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and oranges.
Here, I would also like to tell you some common causes which can cause low potassium levels:
Low potassium containing food intake,
Diarrhea,
Excessive sweating,
Vomiting,
Drugs like diuretics and antibiotics,
If you have any of these causes, you must consult your doctor for management.
(Please note that this not the comprehensive and complete list of causes of hypokalemia. Since you have most other investigations normal, probability of other potential causes which can cause severe hypokalemia is low).
To sum up,
Just eat potassium rich foods.
Do not worry with these potassium levels.
If you have any of the common causes which I mentioned above, Consult your doctor for treatment.
Hope this helps you.
Sorry again for the late response.
Feel free to ask further.
I wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
Thank you so much for geting back to me. I realized yesterday that i havebt been eating any foods that have high potassium content and my diet isnt the best.
Is rhe only way to get potassium from food or presxribed supplements? I mean the body doesnt make it, correct?
Also, could these levels cause / contribute to sinus tachycardia and / or heart palpitations?
I've had exho, stress test, holter, ekg, blood work...all normal exceot this normal low potassiuum level but I get sinus tachycardia
Could it juat be normal for me to be on low end of nornal? Does it take long for levels to come back up once potassium food started? I ate three bananas over course of yesterday.
Thank you for your help..
Thank you so much for geting back to me. I realized yesterday that i havebt been eating any foods that have high potassium content and my diet isnt the best.
Is rhe only way to get potassium from food or presxribed supplements? I mean the body doesnt make it, correct?
Also, could these levels cause / contribute to sinus tachycardia and / or heart palpitations?
I've had exho, stress test, holter, ekg, blood work...all normal exceot this normal low potassiuum level but I get sinus tachycardia
Could it juat be normal for me to be on low end of nornal? Does it take long for levels to come back up once potassium food started? I ate three bananas over course of yesterday.
Thank you for your help..
Brief Answer:
mild hypokalemia; will recover with diet.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Happy that I could help you.
The body will usually generates potassium from food or potassium supplements.
Normally, the body will retain what it needs and expel whats in excess or not needed by body.
I do not think these levels could cause a sinus tachycardia.
Since all your cardiac investigations are normal, it may be due to anxiety or some stress. It may even be health-related anxiety which can cause tachycardia.
People may have many of their blood investigations at the lower end. Some may have at higher end. This is completely normal. There are individual variations in blood values.
I think you should not worry about this.
Replenishment of body potassium from dietary sources may take some time. It does not improve by single intake of potassium-rich food.
Hope my responses address your concerns satisfactorily.
Feel free to discuss further.
If you wish, you can also approach me with a direct query at your convenience.
I will be happy to help you.
Wish you good health.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.
Thanks.
mild hypokalemia; will recover with diet.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Happy that I could help you.
The body will usually generates potassium from food or potassium supplements.
Normally, the body will retain what it needs and expel whats in excess or not needed by body.
I do not think these levels could cause a sinus tachycardia.
Since all your cardiac investigations are normal, it may be due to anxiety or some stress. It may even be health-related anxiety which can cause tachycardia.
People may have many of their blood investigations at the lower end. Some may have at higher end. This is completely normal. There are individual variations in blood values.
I think you should not worry about this.
Replenishment of body potassium from dietary sources may take some time. It does not improve by single intake of potassium-rich food.
Hope my responses address your concerns satisfactorily.
Feel free to discuss further.
If you wish, you can also approach me with a direct query at your convenience.
I will be happy to help you.
Wish you good health.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How would I ask you a question directly? Just let me know how.
Final question for this thread:
Do you think aldosteronism is something I need to worry about?
I had borderline BP of 136/82 while on higher dose of BCP (LONG STORY) from 9/14 to 1/15 -
BP has been back to 116/77 - 120/70 since mid January 2015 after being off BCP and having XXXXXXX inserted.
Hoping not but saw it mentioned for people with low potassium...my creatine, sodium etc all normal (I checked for each date of potassium result).
Thank you SO much for your time!
Final question for this thread:
Do you think aldosteronism is something I need to worry about?
I had borderline BP of 136/82 while on higher dose of BCP (LONG STORY) from 9/14 to 1/15 -
BP has been back to 116/77 - 120/70 since mid January 2015 after being off BCP and having XXXXXXX inserted.
Hoping not but saw it mentioned for people with low potassium...my creatine, sodium etc all normal (I checked for each date of potassium result).
Thank you SO much for your time!
Brief Answer:
NO aldosteronism; BP absolutely normal.
Detailed Answer:
Dear,
To ask a direct query, you just have to visit my profile and click on 'Ask me a question' and you can directly approach me. I will be available to answer your health related queries at the earliest.
I do not think it should be aldosteronism because:
1. You BP is absolutely normal. 136/82 is considered normal. Other readings are normal too.
2. Your rest of kidney function tests are normal, especially sodium.
There is nothing to worry about aldosteronism.
Just relax. Eat healthy. Sleep well. :)
Happy to help you.
Hoping for a positive feedback from you.
Take care.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD.
NO aldosteronism; BP absolutely normal.
Detailed Answer:
Dear,
To ask a direct query, you just have to visit my profile and click on 'Ask me a question' and you can directly approach me. I will be available to answer your health related queries at the earliest.
I do not think it should be aldosteronism because:
1. You BP is absolutely normal. 136/82 is considered normal. Other readings are normal too.
2. Your rest of kidney function tests are normal, especially sodium.
There is nothing to worry about aldosteronism.
Just relax. Eat healthy. Sleep well. :)
Happy to help you.
Hoping for a positive feedback from you.
Take care.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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