Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition characterized by high levels of potassium in the blood. Potassium is an essential mineral that regulates muscle and nerve function in the body. It is critical for maintaining heart function and rhythm. Hyperkalemia rarely occurs in healthy individuals. Eating a large amount of potassium-rich food is usually not a problem unless you have an underlying medical condition that blocks the removal of potassium from the bloodstream.
Diet and Kidney Function
The kidneys normally maintain blood levels of potassium at low levels. Excess potassium that leaves the cells and enters the bloodstream is filtered out by the kidneys. A diet that is very high in potassium might cause high levels of potassium to accumulate in the blood if the kidneys are not working properly. Acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, glomerulonephritis, obstructive uropathy and rejection of a kidney transplant are kidney conditions that could impair the ability to remove dietary potassium from the blood.
Additional Risk Factors
Potassium is higher in the cells and tissues than in the bloodstream. Any injury or condition that causes tissue damage might cause the release of large amounts of potassium. This could include blunt-force trauma, burns, hemolytic conditions, gastrointestinal bleeding, rhabdomyolysis from drugs, alcoholism, coma or certain infections, surgery and tumors. Tissue trauma alone rarely results in hyperkalemia in the blood unless kidney function is also compromised.
Signs
Potassium levels that are higher than 5.1 should be monitored by a doctor. Levels that reach 6.0 are dangerous and require medical attention. Signs of hyperkalemia include irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting and slow, weak or absent pulse. Because the nerves and muscles are affected, you might experience tingling and numbness or muscle weakness. Hyperkalemia might cause cardiac arrest and requires emergency medical attention.
Foods
If your have a kidney condition, you need to limit foods that are high in potassium. Your doctor or a nutritionist can help you plan an appropriate diet for your condition. You might need to avoid or limit foods that contain more than 200 milligrams of potassium per serving. These include apricots, avocado, melon, figs, squash, beets, beans, oranges, bananas, spinach, tomatoes, legumes, potatoes and vegetable broths.
