Potassium is vital to the body for regulating muscle tissue, metabolism and maintaining the balance between the electrical and chemical processes of the brain. High potassium, also known as hyperkalemia, occurs when the kidneys fail to excrete enough excess potassium from the body. Hyperkalemia may cause potentially dangerous arrhythmias. Many conditions may lead to an increase in blood potassium, and physicians often must treat the underlying cause to resolve the issue.
Kidney Failure
The function of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood while maintaining the necessary balance of chemicals known as electrolytes. When a persons kidney's fail, they can no longer properly filter waste or maintain the electrolyte balance necessary for the body to function normally. Kidney failure may be sudden or may occur over time because of to an underlying illness. Symptoms of kidney failure can include breath odor, changes in mental status, seizures, generalized swelling of the body due to fluid retention, metallic taste in the mouth and a lack of urination. Labs will often show an elevated serum potassium level because kidney damage prevents excretion of the excess potassium. The National Institutes of Health explains that treatment of kidney failure depends upon the cause, but often includes restriction of fluids, strict dietary changes, diuretics to help with fluid excretion and supplements to help lower potassium levels. In some cases where potassium levels are excessively high, physicians will treat with dialysis, allowing a machine to filter wastes from the blood before returning the blood to the body.
Addison's Disease
Addison's disease occurs when the body's adrenal glands--small glands found at the top of the kidneys--fail to produce a sufficient amount of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol helps to reduce inflammation in the body, remove toxins from the liver and regulate the effects of stress on the body. Addison's disease can be life-threatening, according to the MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of Addison's disease include muscle weakness, fatigue, weight loss, darkening of the skin, low blood pressure, fainting, salt cravings, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle and joint pain. In sudden-onset Addison's disease, patients may undergo an Addisonian crisis in which they experience severe vomiting and diarrhea, low blood pressure, high potassium and loss of consciousness. Treatment of Addison's disease often includes corticosteroid medications to replace cortisol, and hormone replacement therapy for women.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents known as myoglobin into the bloodstream. Myoglobin breaks down into potentially toxic substances that can cause kidney damage and eventual kidney failure. This condition may occur because of damage to skeletal muscle, but risk factors also include alcoholism, drug use, seizures, muscle death, trauma and severe exertion. Symptoms of rhabdomyolyisis include abnormal urine color, general weakness, muscle stiffness, muscle tenderness, weakness and fatigue. Lab tests often will show a high level of myoglobin in the blood, as well as very high levels of potassium and patients will have a positive urine myoglobin test. According to the National Institutes of Health, treatment must be early and aggressive to prevent permanent kidney damage. Treatment includes flushing myoglobin out of the kidneys, and may include dialysis.
