Potassium deficiency: symptoms and consequences

Potassium deficiency can develop unnoticed, and its early signs are easily confused with fatigue or lack of sleep.

Severe potassium deficiency may cause arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, and muscle paralysis.

Severe hypokalemia usually occurs due to a combination of several factors, including a monotonous diet with insufficient potassium, use of diuretics, and gastrointestinal diseases leading to dehydration.

MOSCOW, September 30 - RIA Novosti. Potassium deficiency can develop unnoticed, and its early signs can easily be confused with fatigue or lack of sleep, explained nutritionist, candidate of medical sciences, employee of the Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine Daria Rusakova.

“A mild deficiency can go unnoticed: mild weakness, fatigue, rare cramps, muscle weakness, constipation and rare interruptions in heart function,” Rusakova told 360.ru.

According to the specialist, with severe potassium deficiency, arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation and muscle paralysis, including respiratory muscles, can occur.