Discharge Instructions for Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia means you have a low level of potassium in the blood. With this condition, you will need to make some dietary changes.
You have been diagnosed with hypokalemia. This means you have a low level of potassium in your blood. Potassium helps your nerve and muscle cells work as they should. These cells include the cells in your heart. A low level of potassium in the blood can cause serious problems, such as abnormal heart rhythms and even a heart attack.
Diet changes
Eat more potassium-rich foods such as:
Bananas
Oranges and orange juice
Tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato juice
Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, salad greens, collards, and chard
Melons (all kinds)
Pomegranates
Peas
Beans
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Avocados, including guacamole
Vegetable juices, such as V8
Fruit juices
All nuts and seeds
Fish, including tuna, halibut, salmon, cod, snapper, haddock, swordfish, and perch
Milk, including fat-free, low-fat, whole, chocolate, and buttermilk
Soy milk
Other home care
Take a potassium supplement as directed by your healthcare provider.
After heavy exercise or any activity that causes you to sweat a lot, grab a beverage high in potassium. This includes chocolate milk, coconut water, orange juice, or low-sodium vegetable juices.
Be sure to eat foods or drink fluids with potassium if you have diarrhea or vomiting.
Have your potassium levels checked regularly as directed.
Take all medicines exactly as directed.
Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking. This includes herbal products. Some water pills (diuretics) can cause you to lose potassium.
Don't have foods that are high in salt. Pass up canned and prepared foods that are high in salt.
Follow-up
Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.
Keep all follow-up appointments. Your healthcare provider needs to monitor your condition closely.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your provider right away or go to the emergency room if you have any of the following:
Vomiting
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Rapid, irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Muscle cramps, spasms, or twitching
Weakness
Paralysis