What Causes Excessive Sweating When Diagnosed With Low Potassium Levels?

Posted on Wed, 31 Aug 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 Answered on

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : After working outside for about 6 hrs, I sweated a lot. I have low potassium so I drank a sports drink to stay hydrated. Once I was finished, I came inside and bathed. I got some stiffness in my right index finger so I took another potassium pill and left to go get dinner. While waiting I got the same stiffness in my left hand that lasted a few seconds. Once home I tool a baby aspirin as I noticed some of the veins in my forehead pulsing and sticking out a little. I then took my blood pressure, I do have high blood pressure and take atenol, and my blood pressure a few minutes ago was 144/76 with pulse at 76. Should I be concerned??

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (-4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Your blood pressure is mildly elevated and this is a concern only if it were to stay like this for months. It is not at an urgent or crisis level (180/110). And your pulse is normal too.

It sounds like you may have over exerted, and rest and fluids, particularly water, are exactly the thing to do right now.

Without knowing about your potassium level or why you have low potassium on an ongoing basis, it is hard for me to advise how much potassium you should take in this situation. But likely with the sports drink plus potassium pill, you have corrected for losses that happened from exertion. I'll leave that part to you and your physician who knows your history and pattern of hypokalemia.

Unless you are feeling weak, chest pressure or pain, light headedness, or nausea, you should be ok with just fluids and rest.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar