Elsie Elliason, a 70-year-old woman, was admitted to the emergency department of the hospital with severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Elsie Elliason, a 70-year-old woman, was admitted to the emergency department of the hospital with severe vomiting and diarrhea. She has been experiencing these symptoms for the past several days. The physician suspects that she is experiencing hypokalemia. What electrolyte test would the physician order to confirm hypokalemia and what might the result be? Why is this particular electrolyte important to normal body function? What effect did Ms. Elliason’s physical symptoms have on the electrolyte?