Hand Tremors & Potassium

An essential mineral for your body, potassium is an electrolyte vital for numerous body functions, including building of proteins and muscles. It helps your body process carbohydrates and maintains your body’s acid-base balance as well as regulating the electrical activity in your heart. Too little potassium in your body may lead to various symptoms including tremors.

Potassium Requirements and Normal Blood Levels

The recommended dietary intake of potassium for all adults is 4,700 milligrams per day, rising to 5,100 milligrams for women who are breast-feeding. The normal level of potassium in your blood is between 3.7 and 5.2 milliequivalents per liter 2. Too low or too high potassium levels in your system can lead to health complications that could potentially be fatal.

Symptoms of Low Potassium Levels

How Do High Potassium Levels Affect Heart?

Learn More

When there is only a small drop in potassium levels, there are usually few to no symptoms. However, continued low potassium levels can lead to muscle weakness or spasms, which may present themselves as hand tremors. Other symptoms include tingling or numbness, muscle damage, tiredness, heart palpitations or constipation. A large drop in potassium level can slow your heartbeat, leading to lightheadedness 2. In severe cases, your heart can also stop.

Causes of Low Potassium Levels

A low potassium level can be the result of a number of conditions, but in general, it is because your body is losing too much potassium 2. Chronic kidney disease can lead to excessive potassium loss through your urine, but hypokalemia can also be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, excessive laxative use, excess sweating or the prolonged use of diuretics or antibiotics.

Treating Hypokalemia

Arrhythmia & Potassium Deficiency

Learn More

To treat hypokalemia, you need to take potassium supplements. Speak with a medical professional to ensure the right dosage as too much potassium in your system is also dangerous. To prevent low potassium levels, eat foods rich in potassium. Fruits such as dried apricots, fresh bananas, kiwis, prunes and citrus fruits are naturally high in potassium. For vegetables, include tomatoes, peas and broccoli in your diet as they are all good sources of potassium. Milk and dairy products such as yogurt as well as most nuts are also good sources of potassium.