Potassium is involved in nerve function, muscle control and blood pressure. A diet high in sodium and low in potassium might contribute to high blood pressure. Normal potassium concentration in the blood is 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter. As long as your kidneys are healthy and functioning properly, your body will eliminate excess potassium from your blood. A buildup of too much potassium is called hyperkalemia. No research has yet shown that a diet low in sodium causes high potassium levels. The most common cause of hyperkalemia is a kidney disorder.
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia can cause muscle fatigue, weakness, paralysis, abnormal heart rhythms and nausea. The only way you can know for sure if you have a high level of potassium is to have your doctor do a blood test. Ordinarily, your doctor will order the test to try to understand what's causing symptoms you already have or to make sure certain medications aren't causing health problems. Some patients with heart failure might have high potassium because their kidneys are not working properly. Kidney failure is the most common cause of hyperkalemia.
Sodium
Sodium and potassium both work to regulate the level of fluid in the body. When people experience high blood pressure and heart disease, physicians often advise them to follow a low-sodium diet. Colorado State University advises people to try to keep sodium and potassium intake levels about the same, as most Americans get way too much sodium and not enough potassium. If your doctor has put you on a low-sodium diet, you should be bringing your sodium/potassium ratio a little closer to even. If your potassium levels begin to climb, the change could be related to your heart or kidney function rather than your salt intake.
Diet
If your physician diagnoses you with hyperkalemia, he might ask you to avoid high-potassium foods such as bananas, orange juice and potatoes. Your physician or a registered dietitian will help you find foods that are low in both sodium and potassium so that you can minimize the symptoms of high potassium until you can address the underlying cause of the problem.
Medications
If you have reduced your sodium intake because of high blood pressure, your doctor might also have prescribed some medications that could be causing your potassium levels to rise. Diuretics, for example, help reduce blood pressure by forcing the body to flush fluids. In some people, diuretics can also upset their potassium balance. If you take potassium as a supplement, this might provide more of the mineral than you need. If you think you have high potassium, consult with your doctor immediately.
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