Potassium is one of your body's key electrolytes. It is present in most foods and is important for many body processes. A balanced diet supplies all the potassium most people need, and its excretion by your kidneys normally prevents the buildup of excess blood levels, known as hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia results in a variety of signs and symptoms, which when severe represent a medical emergency.
About Potassium
Potassium makes up most of the positively charged ions in your cells and must be obtained from dietary sources. Many foods and drinks contain potassium, with fruits and vegetables especially rich sources. Generally, healthy people do not need supplements to meet their daily requirements. Potassium plays an important role in maintaining normal blood pressure, heart rhythm, muscle function, nerve conduction and digestion. Your kidneys help maintain normal blood levels of potassium by excreting any excess in the urine. Hyperkalemia usually occurs only from underlying medical disorders or overuse of supplements.
Hyperkalemia
Elevated potassium levels most commonly lead to fatigue, muscle weakness and an irregular heartbeat, although you might have no symptoms in mild cases. Hyperkalemia results from a variety of medical disorders including kidney failure, adrenal disease, medications such as certain diuretics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, major tissue trauma and some cancers. Overuse of herbal drugs and supplements such as milkweed, Siberian ginseng, noni juice, alfalfa and nettle can also lead to potassium overload. Falsely elevated potassium test results, known as pseudohyperkalemia, can result from poorly handled blood specimens and should not be associated with any symptoms.
Recognizing Hyperkalemia
The presence of hyperkalemia can be suspected based either on symptoms or on underlying health conditions. Muscle weakness, poor movement of food through your intestines, numbness or tingling, trouble breathing, paralysis or an irregular heartbeat can all signal excessive potassium levels. The most serious sign of hyperkalemia involves heart rhythm irregularities, which can lead to heart failure and even death if not treated. Potassium supplements can cause direct side effects even without high potassium levels, including stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Treatment
When hyperkalemia is suspected, your health care provider will take a complete medical history, review any medications or supplements you are taking, perform a physical examination and order any necessary laboratory tests, including electrolyte levels. With only mildly elevated potassium levels and no significant symptoms, the only treatment needed might be a review of your diet and medications. If your potassium levels have risen rapidly or significant symptoms are present, emergency treatment might be necessary. Intravenous calcium to help stabilize the heart muscle, medications to lower your potassium level and treatment of any underlying medical condition all play important roles in reversing hyperkalemia and its symptoms.
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