Found in fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other foods, potassium plays a role in the transmission of nerve impulses and the contraction of muscles. This mineral also helps to maintain normal fluid levels in the body. While potassium has many benefits, too much potassium in the blood causes serious complications.
Identification
The serum potassium blood test helps medical professionals identify high levels of potassium in the blood. The National Institutes of Health reports that normal blood potassium levels range from 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L (milliequivalent per liter). When the amount of potassium in the blood exceeds the upper level of the normal range, hyperkalemia occurs. Hyperkalemia is the medical term for abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood.
Causes
Hyperkalemia occurs as the result of several medical conditions and as a side effect of several drugs. Medical conditions that cause high potassium levels include kidney failure, Addison's disease, hyperaldosteronism, vomiting, destruction of the red blood cells, metabolic acidosis and crushed tissue injuries. Medications that cause hyperkalemia include spironolactone, triamterene, potassium supplements and amiloride. Regular consumption of potassium-rich foods also causes a high potassium count.
Complications
With potassium levels only slightly above normal, you may not experience any symptoms. When potassium levels increase dramatically, symptoms include irregular heartbeat, slow pulse, nausea, weakness, difficulty breathing, fatigue and tingling. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that severe hyperkalemia may lead to paralysis. Because potassium plays a role in the contractions of the heart muscle, untreated hyperkalemia may result in death.
Treatment
Albert Einstein College of Medicine recommends that doctors treat severe cases of hyperkalemia with calcium chloride or calcium gluconate. This helps stabilize the cardiac membranes. Doctors also use intravenous dextrose/glucose and insulin to shift excess potassium out of the cells. If hyperkalemia occurs due to renal failure, peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis filters the excess potassium out of the blood and prevents more serious complications.
Prevention
People with kidney failure must limit their intake of potassium to prevent hyperkalemia from occurring. The renal diet limits the consumption of high-potassium foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, kiwi, chocolate and milk. If you take a medication that increases the risk for hyperkalemia, your doctor may ask you to have a potassium blood test to make sure your potassium levels do not get too high. If this test reveals high levels of potassium, reducing the dosage of the drug or eating foods with less potassium may prevent serious complications from occurring.
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