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Hypokalemia: Abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood. See free access online books about Hypokalemia below. See detailed information below for a list of 147 causes of Hypokalemia, including diseases and drug side effect causes.
» Review Causes of Hypokalemia: full list
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Hypokalemia.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
See full list of 147 causes of Hypokalemia
» Review Causes of Hypokalemia: full list
Home medical tests possibly related to Hypokalemia:
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Hypokalemia, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
See full list of 2222 Symptom Checker combinations related to Hypokalemia
Some of the possible treatments listed in sources for treatment of Hypokalemia may include:
Review further information on Hypokalemia Treatments.
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Real-life user stories relating to Hypokalemia:
Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Hypokalemia or relevant symptoms:
Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Hypokalemia. Some of these are listed below :
See full list of 12
diagnostic tests for Hypokalemia
More Hypokalemia animations & videos
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Hypokalemia as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 49
medications causing Hypokalemia
When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Hypokalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 30 drug interactions causing Hypokalemia
Some of the comorbid or associated medical symptoms for Hypokalemia may include these symptoms:
All associated co-morbid symptoms for Hypokalemia
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Hypokalemia:
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Hypokalemia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
Why: usually without symptoms but may have muscle weakness or heart palpitations.
Why: e.g. liver failure, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome and Conn's syndrome may all increase aldosterone secretion and thus cause low potassium; bulimia nervosa may cause low potassium due to self induced vomiting; renal tubular acidosis causes low potassium.
Why: e.g. ileostomy causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.
Why: e.g. diuretics (especially thiazide diuretics) are the commonest cause of low potassium; laxative abuse causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium; corticosteroids and carbenoxolone may also reduce potassium levels; cytotoxic treatment for cancer, amphotericin and aminoglycoside.
Why: e.g. licorice may reduce potassium; severe dietary deficiency may cause reduced potassium.
See Diagnosis Checklist for Hypokalemia (7 listings)
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Hypokalemia) may include:
Why: causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.
Why: causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.
See Diagnosis Checklist for Hypokalemia (7 listings)
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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Hypokalemia
Medical news articles related to Hypokalemia include:
Source: HealthDay News
Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Hypokalemia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Hypokalemia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Hypokalemia
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:
Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible
causes of Hypokalemia as a symptom include:
See full list of 147
causes of Hypokalemia
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Hypokalemia: The presence of an abnormally low concentration of potassium ions in the circulating blood; occurs in familial periodic paralysis and in potassium depletion due to excessive loss from the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys. The changes of hypokalemia may include vacuolation of renal tubular epithelial cytoplasm with impairment of urinary concentrating power and acidification, flattening of the T wave of the electrocardiogram, and muscle weakness. SYN: hypopotassemia. [hypo- + G. kalion L. kalium, potassium, + G. haima, blood]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Hypokalemia; lower than normal levels of potassium in the circulating blood.
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities; associated with adrenal tumors or starvation or taking diuretics
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Abnormally low potassium concentration in the blood; may result from excessive potassium loss by the renal or gastrointestinal route, from decreased intake, or from transcellular shifts; manifested clinically by neuromuscular disorders ranging from weakness to paralysis, by electrocardiographic abnormalities, and by renal and gastrointestinal disorders.
- (Source - CRISP)
The list of organs typically affected by Hypokalemia may include, but is not limited to:
The list below shows some of the causes of Hypokalemia mentioned in various sources:
See full list of 147 causes of Hypokalemia
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Hypokalemia. Of the 147 causes of Hypokalemia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
See the analysis of the prevalence of 147 causes of Hypokalemia
The following list of conditions have 'Hypokalemia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
The following list of conditions have 'Hypokalemia' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.
Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.
See a list of all the medical forums
This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Hypokalemia based
on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:
Potassium levels low (plasma or serum), Hypokalaemia
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Medical Conditions associated with Hypokalemia:
Blood symptoms (1939 causes), Electrolyte balance symptoms (219 causes), Abnormal blood test symptoms (1356 causes)
Symptoms related to Hypokalemia:
Diarrhoea (1958 causes), Laxative use, Renal disease, Diuretics, Decreased dietary intake, Hyperaldosteronism, Cushings syndrome (4 causes)
Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:
These general medical articles may be of interest:
See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
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Copyright © 2010 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 8 February, 2010 (20:01)
