A person with low potassium levels may experience seizures as an indirect consequence of their condition according to some medical research. However such a conclusion does not appear to be conclusive.
The normal potassium level in the blood is between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L (milliequivalent per litre). If someone’s potassium is measured below 3.5 mEq/L then they are deemed to have a low potassium level.
If the level is less than 2.5 mEq/L, the condition may be life threatening and the person is in need of emergency medical attention. The effect of low potassium in the body is the formation of a potentially fatal state called as hypokalemia. Severe conditions of hypokalemia can lead to serious arrhythmias, muscle weakness and disturbed heart rhythm.
It has also been stated that hypokalemia can lead to an increased risk of hyponatremia which can cause seizures. Therefore suffering from seizures would appear to be an indirect consequence of low potassium levels rather than a directly linked symptom of the condition.
Potassium regulates the neuromuscular activity of the body. Therefore low levels can result in muscle malfunction and muscle twitching.
The symptoms of low potassium levels are normally mild and are often vague. They will vary from person to person. For moderate and non-life threatening cases, possible symptoms include weakness, tiredness, leg or arm cramp, nausea, tingling or numbness, irregular psychological behaviour, fainting due to low blood pressure, palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms.
Low potassium levels is a common complaint - out of every five people hospitalised in the United States, one of them is found to have low potassium levels in their blood.
It would appear therefore that low potassium levels will increase a person’s risk of getting seizures, although seizures are not among the symptoms most instantly and commonly associated with the condition of hypokalemia.
The normal potassium level in the blood is between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L (milliequivalent per litre). If someone’s potassium is measured below 3.5 mEq/L then they are deemed to have a low potassium level.
If the level is less than 2.5 mEq/L, the condition may be life threatening and the person is in need of emergency medical attention. The effect of low potassium in the body is the formation of a potentially fatal state called as hypokalemia. Severe conditions of hypokalemia can lead to serious arrhythmias, muscle weakness and disturbed heart rhythm.
It has also been stated that hypokalemia can lead to an increased risk of hyponatremia which can cause seizures. Therefore suffering from seizures would appear to be an indirect consequence of low potassium levels rather than a directly linked symptom of the condition.
Potassium regulates the neuromuscular activity of the body. Therefore low levels can result in muscle malfunction and muscle twitching.
The symptoms of low potassium levels are normally mild and are often vague. They will vary from person to person. For moderate and non-life threatening cases, possible symptoms include weakness, tiredness, leg or arm cramp, nausea, tingling or numbness, irregular psychological behaviour, fainting due to low blood pressure, palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms.
Low potassium levels is a common complaint - out of every five people hospitalised in the United States, one of them is found to have low potassium levels in their blood.
It would appear therefore that low potassium levels will increase a person’s risk of getting seizures, although seizures are not among the symptoms most instantly and commonly associated with the condition of hypokalemia.
