(HealthDay News) - Potassium is a dietary mineral that's vital to the body and healthy cell function. A big drop in the body's potassium levels can be life-threatening, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

The agency lists common symptoms of potassium deficiency:

• An abnormal heart rhythm (particularly in people with heart conditions).
• Constipation.
• Fatigue.
• Weakness in the muscles, or muscle spasms.
• Paralysis, including paralysis of the lungs.