A 38-year-old member asked:
Can alcoholism cause low potassium levels and how does this affect your heart?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Rick Kochanswered
Cardiology 23 years experience
Yes: Dehydrating and electrolyte depletion can result from excess alcohol consumption. Low potassium can lead to heart arrhythmias.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Shahid Rafiqueanswered
Internal Medicine 45 years experience
Damage heart: Alcoholism does not cause low potassium. Rather it can cause magnesium deficiency. Alcohol is very toxic to heart muscle in some individuals and can cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy which can then lead to heart failure and serious issues.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Last updated Jun 23, 2018
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