Irregular Heartbeat
Potassium is also essential for maintaining proper cardiac muscle contractions. It ensures that heartbeat may be managed by the potassium that moves into and out of the heart cells.
Low blood potassium levels can alter this flow, which can cause heart arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. This symptom can also indicate other severe health conditions associated with the heart.
When the level of potassium in the blood drops below 3,0 mmol/l, it will significantly prolong the Q-T interval. It will increase the risk of abrupt cardiac death, ventricular fibrillation, and torsade des pointes. Potassium exceeding 6,0 mmol/l results in peaked T waves, larger QRS complexes, bradycardia, possibly rapid death, and asystole (a cardiac arrest that stops the heart beat completely).
As mentioned earlier, low potassium in the blood can also increase your risk of ventricular fibrillation. This health condition is a typical irregular heart rhythm that can occur when a person doesn’t get enough or has too much potassium. The US Department of Agriculture says people should eat at least 4,700 mg of potassium in their diet daily.
