If you can't seem to rest enough and your energy levels are low, you may be potassium deficient, Blake said. "Every cell in your body needs the right amount of potassium to function," Blake explained. "If you are increasingly exhausted and know you are getting enough sleep, potassium might be the cause."
An imbalance of potassium can cause many different side effects including anxiety and new research suggests a potential for sleep disturbances. If you have low levels of potassium, you may experience an increase in your anxiety symptoms.
Studies have found that anxiety increases adrenal hormones, which can decrease blood potassium [17]. Avoid or manage stress. Good strategies to manage stress are getting adequate rest, engaging in exercise, relaxation, meditation, etc. Discuss supplemental potassium with your doctor.
Electrolyte Imbalance
If you have really high or low levels of electrolytes like sodium or potassium, it can cause anxiety or panic-like symptoms. These include shortness of breath, confusion, and rapid heartbeat. You might also be irritable, lightheaded, fatigued, or have headaches or nausea.
High potassium usually develops slowly over many weeks or months, and is most often mild. It can recur. For most people, the level of potassium in your blood should be between 3.5 and 5.0, depending on the laboratory that is used.
They found potassium levels in the cells fluctuated significantly throughout the day, and that this corresponded perfectly with their active and resting times. Namely, their potassium levels increased during the day and decreased at night.
Low blood potassium typically occurs because of an excessive loss of potassium in your digestive tract. This may be due to frequent vomiting, diarrhea or laxative use. Other causes of hypokalemia include: Eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa.
The lowdown
In particular, vitamins B6, B12, C, D, and E can improve or lower your sleep quality and duration. Vitamin C deficiency and both lack and an excess of vitamin B6 in the body might affect your sleep or cause insomnia.
Results: In the 15 subjects with normal RF, the lowest mean potassium level (3.96 ± 0.14 mmol/l) was observed at 9 p.m. and the greatest (4.23 ± 0.23 mmol/l) at 1 p.m. In patients with impaired RF the lowest mean potassium level (4.20 ± 0.32 mmol/l) was observed at 9 p.m. and the highest (4.57 ± 0.46 mmol/l) at 3 p.m. ...
Taking potassium supplements can usually correct the problem. In severe cases, without proper treatment, a severe drop in potassium level can lead to serious heart rhythm problems that can be fatal.
Drink An Electrolyte Beverage
If you're concerned primarily with replacing potassium lost through physical activity, such as a strenuous workout or a few hours of outdoor work or play on a hot day, one quick way to raise your potassium levels is through a cold beverage.
Treatment by potassium replacement intravenously is effective, and recovery occurs within 24 hours.
Can I take the test at home? You can take a potassium test at home, either with a blood or urine sample. If using a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day. For blood tests, you often need to visit a local laboratory to have your sample collected.
Hypokalemia may also impair the ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine, resulting in excessive urination (polyuria) and excessive thirst (polydipsia). Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
Excessive water consumption may lead to depletion of potassium, which is an essential nutrient. This may cause symptoms like leg pain, irritation, chest pain, et al.
Pseudohypokalemia, or falsely low serum potassium, occasionally is found when blood specimens from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and a white blood cell count > 100,000/mcL (100 × 10 9/L) remain at room temperature before being processed because abnormal leukocytes in the sample take up serum potassium.
Adults should consume about 3,500mg of potassium per day, according to the UK's National Health Service. The average banana, weighing 125g, contains 450mg of potassium, meaning a healthy person can consume at least seven-and-half bananas before reaching the recommended level.
If your potassium continues to be abnormally low, it could be a sign that your kidneys aren't working properly. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering potassium, helping to keep potassium levels in check. If you have early kidney failure or other renal issues, your potassium levels can plunge to an unsafe range.