Constipation
The intestines and stomach are lined with smooth muscle that helps with propelling digested food through the gastrointestinal system. Remember how potassium helps with muscle contractions? It applies here too. When your are hypokalemic, the smooth muscle that contracts to push food through the intestines will not fire correctly, and this can lead to digestive upset.
Because of this, muscle weakness and constipation are the most frequent complaints from individuals with low potassium levels. Keep in mind that if you become severely hypokalemic, the muscles that propel food through the digestive system can stop completely. In that event, you may experience constipation, lack of appetite, intense nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloating.
