Potassium

A mineral needed to help maintain normal heart rhythm, regulate the body’s water balance, conduct nerve impulses, and contract muscles. Dietary sources of potassium include lean meat, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, beans, and various fruits, such as apricots, dates, and peaches. A low level of potassium in the blood is known as hypokalaemia. It is usually a result of loss of fluids through diarrhoea and/or vomiting, and causes fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, and muscle weakness. In more severe cases, there may be abnormal heart rhythms and muscle paralysis. Excess potassium in the blood is known as hyperkalaemia and is much less common than hypokalaemia. It may be due to excessive intake of potassium supplements, severe kidney failure, Addison’s disease, or prolonged treatment with potassium-sparing diuretics. The effects of high potassium levels in the blood can include numbness and tingling, disturbances of the heart rhythm, and muscle paralysis. In severe cases, there may be heart failure.