By Jamila W. Harris
From PHN Issue 58, Fall 2024
I recently experienced a trip to the emergency room because I was feeling low on energy. Whenever I took a breath, I felt sharp chest pain in my heart, in addition to body aches. I
thought that this was due to strenuous exercise. However, when I saw a doctor, I was told that
my potassium levels were dangerously low and that was why I was not feeling well. Surprisingly,
I also had a bladder infection known as a urinary tract infection or UTI. This too was caused by
low potassium levels. I figured I would take potassium supplement pills and be on my way
home. However, I was informed that if my low potassium levels were not regulated immediately, I could likely face a heart attack or stroke. Under these circumstances, I was not cleared to leave the emergency room. I was placed on an IV immediately to receive potassium through my veins. It was the most excruciating pain that I experienced through an IV. This experience cemented in me how important it is to eat the right foods enriched with potassium. For starters, the easiest food to remember to eat is a banana.
Prison Health News 