Causes of Hypokalemia
The causes of low potassium usually falls into one of the three factors: poor intake, shift of fluids, or increased excretion of potassium. These causes are usually connected to one or more of the following:
Diuretics
Excessive loss of potassium through the urine is one of the leading causes of mild and severe hypokalemia. Many medications act as a diurectic, which increases the frequency of urination. Common diuretics include blood pressure and heart disease medication. In fact, because loss of potassium is a known side effect in commonly prescribed medications, like hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide, patients who are on such medication often have routine potassium level checks.
Diet pills can also sometimes act as a diuretic, as can caffeine in copious amounts. If you are using stimulants, you might want to reduce your intake to avoid negatively impacting your health.
