Definition:
Hypokalemia is a potassium deficit in the blood. There are a number of causes of hypokalemia, one of which is bulimia nervosa. When a person with bulimia purges food, it removes fluids from the body. This drains the body of needed potassium.
Potassium helps the body's nervous system to transmit electrical impulses that control the body's functioning. Without adequate potassium, signals become erratic. Hypokalemia can produce fatigue and muscle spasms; it can also result in dangerous physical problems like abnormal heart rhythms (and when severe enough, cardiac arrest) and even paralysis. If paralysis affects the diaphragm, which help the lungs breath, for example, it can cause respiratory arrest.
Pronunciation: HY-poe-keh-LEEM'-ee-ah
Also Known As: potassium deficit, low blood potassium
Common Misspellings: hypocalemia (which refers to low calcium rather than low potassium)
Examples: Given his patient's history of bulimia nervosa, the doctor wondered if her abnormal heartbeat was due to hypokalemia.
