Exposure to excessive aldosterone primarily affects potassium levels by causing:

Exposure to excessive aldosterone primarily leads to hypokalemia due to the hormone's role in regulating electrolyte balance. Aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands and acts primarily on the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidneys, promoting the reabsorption of sodium and the excretion of potassium.

When aldosterone levels are high, the increased reabsorption of sodium results in a corresponding increase in potassium secretion into the urine. This process effectively lowers potassium levels in the blood, leading to hypokalemia. The renal handling of potassium is crucial, as it determines the maintenance of potassium homeostasis in the body.

In conditions of primary hyperaldosteronism or excess aldosterone secretion (such as Conn's syndrome), patients often present with symptoms of hypokalemia, which may include muscle weakness, cramps, and cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, the action of aldosterone in promoting potassium loss is the key reason why excessive levels of this hormone primarily result in low potassium levels (hypokalemia).