High blood potassium, or hyperkalemia, may result from a high potassium diet, kidney disease, Addison's disease or trauma, or it may develop as a complication of diabetes. Some medications, including beta blockers, may also cause hyperkalemia. Symptoms of high potassium include weakness, fatigue, paralysis, nausea, breathing problems, irregular heartbeat, and tingling or numbness in your extremities or elsewhere. Without treatment to lower one's potassium, hyperkalemia is potentially fatal. Speak with your doctor if you have symptoms of high potassium before attempting to treat yourself with diet or other home remedies.
Step 1
Limit your intake of foods that contain high levels of potassium, such as bananas, nuts, potatoes, lentils, salmon, peaches and watermelon. Also, avoid refined breads, sugar and pastas.
Step 2
Eat cold-water fish and lean meat instead of red meat and processed foods. Beans are another good source of protein that will not raise your potassium.
Step 3
Avoid fried and baked goods that contain trans-fatty acids, and choose healthy cooking oils, such as vegetable oil and olive oil.
Step 4
Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you are sweating excessively or plan to be outdoors in the heat. Avoid drinking sports drinks, as these can raise potassium levels.
Step 5
Take calcium chloride or gluconate to stabilize your heart function while using other medications or methods to remove excess potassium from your body.
Step 6
Move extra potassium from your blood to your cells by taking insulin, beta agonists or sodium bicarbonate. These medications can lower potassium and help prevent complications from developing.
Step 7
Try using diuretic medications to improve excretion of potassium from your kidneys, or take binding resins to encourage the exchange of sodium and potassium in your digestive system.
Step 8
Undergo hemodialysis to remove excess potassium from your body if your kidneys are failing. Hemodialysis is the most effective treatment for hyperkalemia once it advances to this stage.
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