High blood levels of potassium could make the heart stop beating. It is an important nutrient that helps keep organs such as the heart in good working condition. It also has to be present for some enzymes to function. High levels of potassium in the blood is referred to as hyperkalemia. This condition is caused by several factors and requires prompt medical attention.
Functions
In addition to being a nutrient, potassium is also an electrolyte -- a substance that can conduct electricity. The heart has an electrical system that enables it to beat at a pace that is compatible with life. Potassium plays an important part in this heart function. It is also necessary for transmission of nerve impulses in the body. Additionally, skeletal and smooth muscle contractions require the presence of potassium. Some body systems such as the digestive system are made of smooth muscles and therefore need potassium. Processes such as protein synthesis, water balance and muscle building also require potassium.
Causes
Higher than normal levels of potassium can occur as a result of several conditions. Several medications such as diuretics -- drugs that remove water from the body through urine -- that preserve potassium in the body can cause hyperkalemia. Addison's disease is another cause of hyperkalemia. In this hormonal disease, blood levels of a hormone called aldosterone are low. Because this hormone removes more potassium than sodium through the kidneys, when it is low, it retains more potassium and excretes more sodium -- this then causes hyperkalemia.
Kidney dysfunction and conditions that cause potassium to move out of the cells and into the bloodstream can also cause hyperkalemia. Burns and crush injuries where muscles are destroyed in large amounts are examples. Eating or consuming too much potassium can also cause hyperkalemia.
Effects
When blood levels of potassium are too high, the electrical system of the heart does not function properly and this can cause irregular or abnormal heart beats. In addition to this, the Merck Manuals Medical Library explains that hyperkalemia could cause cardiac arrest or make the heart stop beating. Other effects hyperkalemia has on one's health are weakness, diarrhea, nausea and muscle problems that could result in muscular paralysis.
Tests and Exams
Health effects of hyperkalemia can be confirmed with blood tests. A blood sample is drawn during a blood test and then its potassium content is measured. An electrocardiogram, or ECG, is used to evaluate the effects of higher than normal potassium levels on the heart. It may reveal abnormal heart rhythms in hyperkalemia.
Treatment
Hyperkalemia's treatment involves addressing its cause. If the problem is caused by consumption of too much potassium in the diet or by drugs, then treatment would involve reducing dietary intake of potassium or stopping the medication that is causing it.
In diseases or conditions associated with hyperkalemia, treatment involves treating the underlying cause. In very severe cases of hyperkalemia, MedlinePlus notes that the goal of the treatment is to protect the body from the effects of high blood levels of potassium. This involves measures to remove excess potassium from the body. Administration of medications such as kayexalate and some diuretics can remove excess potassium from the body. Dialysis is a medical procedure that also has this effect.
Sodium bicarbonate, intravenous glucose, insulin as well as intravenous calcium are medications used to treat the symptoms of severe hyperkalemia.
Member Comments