Patient Education: Hypokalemia

What is Hypokalemia?

Hypokalemia means you have low potassium in your blood. Potassium is a mineral that helps your muscles, heart, and nerves work properly. When potassium is too low, your body may not work as well.

Causes and Risk Factors

Losing too much potassium through vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.
Taking certain medicines called diuretics (water pills).
Not eating enough potassium-rich foods.
Some health problems like kidney disease or certain hormone problems.
Too much alcohol or some medications can also cause low potassium.

Signs and Symptoms

Early warning signs:

Feeling tired or weak
Muscle cramps or twitching
Constipation
Feeling dizzy or light-headed

Other symptoms if it gets worse:

Muscle weakness or paralysis
Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
Trouble breathing

Complications if Untreated

If you do not treat low potassium, it can cause serious heart problems, muscle damage, and even make breathing hard.

Treatment and Self-Care

Your doctor may give you potassium pills or fluids with potassium.
Eat foods high in potassium like bananas, oranges, spinach, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Avoid medicines that lower potassium unless your doctor says otherwise.
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

Common Medications

Potassium chloride: helps raise potassium levels.
Potassium-sparing diuretics: help keep potassium in your body.

Possible side effects:

Upset stomach
Too much potassium can cause heart problems (call doctor if you feel irregular heartbeat).

Dietary Needs and Lifestyle Changes

Eat potassium-rich foods daily.
Drink enough fluids unless your doctor says not to.
Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take.

Safety Considerations

Never take potassium supplements without your doctor’s approval.
If you have kidney problems, be careful with potassium because too much can be harmful.
Watch for signs like muscle weakness or heart palpitations and report them.

Prevention and Maintenance

Keep regular doctor appointments and get blood tests to check potassium levels.
Follow diet and medication instructions.
Tell your healthcare team if you feel symptoms or side effects.

When to Call for Help

Call your Home Health Agency or Doctor if:
- You feel mild muscle cramps or weakness.
- You have nausea or vomiting.
- You notice changes in your heartbeat or feel dizzy.
Go to the Emergency Room if:
- You have severe muscle weakness or cannot move.
- You have chest pain or irregular heartbeat.
- You have trouble breathing.

Patient Homework / Assessment: True or False

Instructions: Read each statement below. Circle "True" if you think the statement is correct or "False" if it is not. If the statement is False, please write the correct answer next to it.

True / False: Hypokalemia means there is too much potassium in the blood.
True / False: Eating bananas and oranges can help raise potassium levels.
True / False: Muscle cramps can be a sign of low potassium.
True / False: You should never take potassium supplements without your doctor’s approval.
True / False: Drinking lots of water always lowers potassium levels.
True / False: Low potassium can cause irregular heartbeats.
True / False: Vomiting and diarrhea can cause low potassium.
True / False: Potassium helps your muscles and nerves work properly.
True / False: It is safe to ignore muscle weakness caused by low potassium.
True / False: Potassium-sparing diuretics help keep potassium in the body.
True / False: You should avoid potassium-rich foods if you have low potassium.
True / False: You should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
True / False: Feeling dizzy can be a sign of low potassium.
True / False: If you have kidney problems, you should be careful with potassium intake.
True / False: Severe muscle weakness means you should call the emergency room.
True / False: You can only get low potassium from not eating enough potassium foods.
True / False: Potassium chloride is a medicine used to raise potassium levels.
True / False: You do not need to get blood tests to check potassium levels.
True / False: You should stop taking your medicines if you feel muscle cramps.
True / False: Low potassium can cause constipation.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Questions to Personalize Your Education

What are your most recent potassium lab test results?
How often do you get your potassium levels checked?
What medicines are you currently taking to help control your potassium levels?
Have you noticed any symptoms like muscle weakness, cramps, or irregular heartbeat?
What foods do you usually eat that contain potassium?
Do you know what to do if you feel symptoms of low potassium?