Question 1

i have chronically low potassium. is drinking coconut water safe? i drink 50 oz per day over the last few months & it has corrected my hypokalemia.

Accepted Answer

Safe: Coconut water is safe. It is likely that bananas will do the same good at lower cost.

Question 2

what are the causes of low potassium (hypokalemia)?

Accepted Answer

See below: A low potassium level has many causes, some are due to decreased intake, some due to increase loss from the skin, gut eg loose stools, urine eg alcohol intake, tubular problems or magnesium deficiency.Others are due to shift of potassium into the cells.

Question 3

i have hypokalemia which is low potassium in my blood should i play soccer today or wait?

Accepted Answer

Low potassium: You would be better off waiting for your potassium (k) levels to rise before you play soccer. The more important question is, why is your k low? Are you on any medications that would lower it, like diuretics? Do you have a low magnesium level? See a physician to get to the cause of your low k level. It is better to prevent a problem than treat it.

Question 4

i have a low potassium problem and kidney stones problem. is my hypokalemia the cause of my kidney stones? or the other way?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: These are not necessarily related, except for if you have what is called type 1 rta; in that case, innate kidney disease causes both low potassium (due to wasting) as well as kidney stone formation (low urine acid, high calcium excretion).

Question 5

what can cause sudden dangerously low potassium, hypokalemia, causing me to collapse and nearly die?

what tests do i need?

Accepted Answer

Periodic paralysis?T: This sounds to me like hypokalemic periodic paralysis. I've seen good physicians miss this. Please read up on it, see if this fits you, talk with your physicians, see if a diagnosis can be made, if it can, discuss the implications with your family.

Question 6

how does hypokalemia affect leg muscle endurance activities like running and swimming? with low potassium can you still build muscle?

Accepted Answer

Muscle cramps: You need proteins to build and maintain muscle, but you need to right balance of fluids and electrolytes to have good muscle function. When your potassium is low, you are more likely to experience muscle cramps and fatigue.

Question 7

was diagnosed with hypokalemia after taking florinef (fludrocortisone). same day i had blood work for nt-probnp. could low potassium cause high bnp? mine was high

Accepted Answer

Florinef (fludrocortisone): Florinef (fludrocortisone) causes salt and fluid retention. The fluid retention may cause a rise in bnp. Suggest you discuss result with your md. Lowering of the potassium is a known side effect of Florinef (fludrocortisone) use.

Question 8

i am22 male. i had this hypokalemia. all my lab tests results are good. still my doctors canot figure out the cause of my low potsium, why is that so?

Accepted Answer

See below: See a endocrinologist or nephrologist. I will need more details- such as do you have high blood pressure.

Question 9

took potassium for hypokalemia but it's been 3 days and still super dizzy ?

Accepted Answer

Recheck potassium : If a lab test indicated that your potassium was low and you took additional potassium then the  test needs to be repeated to see if the additional potassium was enough (or too much). If potassium is normal and dizziness persists then you need to follow up with your doctor to be evaluated for other causes of dizziness.

Question 10

can exercise & glucose shift potassium in a healthy person? i'm diagnosed hkpp, getting 2nd opinion. hypoglycemia & random hypokalemia. what else???

Accepted Answer

Hkpp?: Exercise drives sugar into cells and would cause hypoglycemia if your liver failed to metabolize glycogen and couldn't perform gluconeogenesis. An insulin secreting tumor should be ruled out. Exercise should not affect potassium unless you have a metabolic disorder (low potassium from alkalosis, high potassium from acidosis). Are you seeing an endocrinologist?

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Low potassium miscarriage

A member asked:

I have chronically low potassium. is drinking coconut water safe? i drink 50 oz per day over the last few months & it has corrected my hypokalemia.

A member asked:

What are the causes of low potassium (hypokalemia)?

A member asked:

I have hypokalemia which is low potassium in my blood should i play soccer today or wait?

A member asked:

I have a low potassium problem and kidney stones problem. is my hypokalemia the cause of my kidney stones? or the other way?

A member asked:

What can cause sudden dangerously low potassium, hypokalemia, causing me to collapse and nearly die? what tests do i need?

A member asked:

How does hypokalemia affect leg muscle endurance activities like running and swimming? with low potassium can you still build muscle?

A member asked:

Was diagnosed with hypokalemia after taking florinef (fludrocortisone). same day i had blood work for nt-probnp. could low potassium cause high bnp? mine was high

A member asked:

I am22 male. i had this hypokalemia. all my lab tests results are good. still my doctors canot figure out the cause of my low potsium, why is that so?

A member asked:

Took potassium for hypokalemia but it's been 3 days and still super dizzy ?

A member asked:

Can exercise & glucose shift potassium in a healthy person? i'm diagnosed hkpp, getting 2nd opinion. hypoglycemia & random hypokalemia. what else???

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?