This could just be a one time thing though. You could be rechecked and your potassium is at a normal level. You should see your doctor and have the potassium rechecked. Sometimes while you are having your blood drawn, the blood can hemolyze and cause abnormal results due to the blood draw, meaning that it is not a true reading and should be redrawn. See your doctor. I hope this helps.
Potassium is used to maintain a balance between chemical and electrical reactions in the body, potassium being an electrolyte. Excess Potassium is removed from the body by the Kidneys and so this would be a starting point. The Hormone aldosterone controls the rate at which the kidneys remove potassium,water and sodium from the blood and this hormone is a steriod type produced in the adrenal gland. Some medications as a side effect act as a aldosterone inhibitor.
ve been browsing internet sites to gather information and saw that there is a link between high potassium levels and thyroid problems. My initial thyroid blood tests came up normal, TSH 1.47, T4Free 0.95 and T3,Free 312. my thyroglobulin antibodies were slightly high, at 21 and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were less than 10. The next blood labs, done in the hospital, were TSH .69, free T$ 0.74 and "normal" thyroid gland antibodies.
I have not had any recent blood work done in the last four months her self but I am going to pull out those records from that time and see what potassium levels look like. There’s a great website at the mayo clinic about low potassium but I have yet to find an answer as to the relationship with the thyroid. I’m sure it’s there though I’m sure there’s a relationship just don’t know how.
A multivitamin has magnesium in it so this should be fine. Potassium and magnesium levels often go together, and if there is a low potassium there also may be a low magnesium level. There are many websites that can educate you on foods that have high and safe levels of magnesium and potassium to incorporate in your diet. I would start with these conservative measures first.
Abnormal potassium levels may cause symptoms such as muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination, dehydration, low blood pressure, confusion, irritability, paralysis, and changes in heart rhythm." It does not specify which side effects are from potassium being too high and which are associated with it being too low, but you could certainly google "potassium too high" and get some good information.
Did your doctor tell you to take supplements to keep your levels up and/or eat foods that are rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium in order to avoid deficiency again? These are electrolytes and must be kept in balance with other electrolytes - sodium and chloride.
Many of us have to take magnesium supplements to prevent symptoms of deficiency. Magnesium citrate seems to be the best type to take, as magnesium oxide is mostly good as a laxative.
I recently had a health check done and the doctor called me to say that everything appeared fine except for my calcium and potassium levels which were low. I have been using Gaviscon quite a bit recently (currently awaiting appointment for urea breath test to see if I have h pylori which is causing reflux). Anyway she advised me to stay off the Gaviscon for a week as this may be causing the low potassium levels. She also said that my kidney tests came back fine.
Here is a website: lpi.oregonstate.
By the way, an overdose of insulin depletes potassium, and guess what? Ocasionally causes a siezure.
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