Potassium plays important roles in maintaining the electrolyte balance in your blood, aids in digestion and allows muscles like your heart to contract. Less than 2 percent of the potassium in your body is found in the fluids outside of your cells, including your blood plasma. If the amount of potassium in the blood rises even slightly, it can cause life-threatening complications.
Causes
High potassium in the blood, medically referred to as hyperkalemia, usually occurs as a result of kidney diseases that reduce the kidneys' ability to properly remove potassium from the blood. Some possible kidney diseases include kidney failure, glomerulonephritis and obstructive uropathy. The hormone aldosterone, which is produced by the adrenal glands, regulates the amount of potassium in the blood.
A lack of aldosterone, due to Addison's disease or other adrenal gland insufficiency, can lead to increased levels of potassium in the blood. Injury to your body tissues from trauma, burns, tumors or surgery, may also lead to high potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia may also occur as a result of certain medications that affect the way your body controls potassium or excessive potassium supplementation. High intake of potassium-rich foods may lead to hyperkalemia, but only if the kidneys are damaged, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Symptoms
Most people with hyperkalemia do not experience any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, it usually indicates that the potassium levels in your blood have increased significantly. Possible symptoms include irregular heartbeat, nausea, or a weak or absent pulse.
Treatment
If your potassium level is significantly elevated, emergency medical treatment may be necessary. Treatment may involve medications that attach to potassium in the blood and trigger it to be removed from the digestive tract, called cation-exchange medications. Diuretics and dialysis may also be necessary to remove potassium from the blood. Intravenous calcium, glucose and insulin may also be administered to help reverse symptoms.
Once potassium levels decrease, long-term treatment focuses on correcting the underlying cause of hyperkalemia. Diuretics may be prescribed for those with kidney diseases, and a low-potassium diet may be necessary.
Prognosis
If hyperkalemia is caught early and the underlying cause is properly controlled, it is highly likely that you will fully recover. If left untreated, hyperkalemia can lead to serious complications, including heart attack, changes in nerve and muscle control, and abnormal heart rhythms.
Member Comments