High potassium levels, or hyperkalemia, can be a life-threatening medical condition if left unchecked. Potassium is a positive ion that drives the electrical potential of excitable cells in the body. High levels of potassium make these cells in...
Sodium and potassium are electrolytes, or electrically charged minerals, found in blood, according to LabTestsOnline.org. Electrolytes can change when the level of water in the body changes. Sodium and potassium levels may be tested individually...
High levels of potassium in the body reflect a condition called hyperkalemia. According to the "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," potassium is a crucial electrolyte in resting membrane potential. In hyperkalemic states, the delicate...
A potassium test is common along with testing for other electrolytes in the blood as part of a routine physical. Potassium can be depleted in the body by diarrhea and vomiting or excessive sweating. Kidney disease and some prescription drugs, such...
Low levels of potassium in the blood, a condition known as hypokalemia, may be deadly, because potassium is needed for healthy nerve and muscle function. Low potassium may disrupt the heartbeat. Normally, blood levels of potassium are between 3.6...
Sodium and potassium are electrolytes, or minerals with an electric charge. The cells in the body have to keep a balance between the number of electrolytes with a negative charge and the number of electrolytes with a positive charge within the...
PepsiCo markets Gatorade by recounting the 1965 story about a University of Florida assistant coach who sat down with university physicians and asked why his players were so affected by the heat. Instead of providing the obvious answer--that...
The healthy functioning of cells in your body depends on the mineral potassium. Potassium also acts as an electrolyte, allowing your heart and muscles to function properly. With the help of the hormone aldosterone, your kidneys maintain the proper...
Potassium is an essential nutrient that is vital to heart, muscle and digestive health. Along with sodium, magnesium and calcium, potassium is an electrolyte, a type of mineral that carries electric charges through your body as it regulates fluid...
Hypokalemia is the medical term for low levels of potassium in the blood. Because potassium is essential for proper nerve and muscle function, very low levels of potassium can cause serious problems. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of low...
The normal blood level of potassium, a mineral critical to the function of nerve and muscles cells, is 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter, or mEq/L, according to MayoClinic.com. A potassium level higher than 6.0 mEq/L can be dangerous and...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, potassium is an essential mineral that promotes cardiac and bone health, smooth muscle contraction, digestion and other essential biological functions. Potassium can also pose serious health...
Renal insufficiency and renal failure are caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, congenital defects, polycystic disease and glomerular diseases such as IgA nephropathy. Although all these diseases are very different, the symptoms of renal...
Hyperkalemia is the medical term for the state of having a high level of potassium in the blood. Potassium is an electrolyte that plays a role in digestion, muscle growth and overall metabolism. Higher-than-normal levels of blood potassium can be...
Hyperkalemia is the medical term for high levels of potassium in the bloodstream. Potassium is an electrolyte, or salt, necessary for the adequate function of muscles and nerves in the body. Other electrolytes include sodium, calcium, chlorine,...
High levels of potassium are known as hyperkalemia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your body requires a certain level of potassium in order to keep the heart beating and muscles and cells functioning. Too much potassium in the blood can cause...
The human body has several intricate processes that maintain normal potassium and calcium levels in the blood. When organ damage, acute illness or chronic illness interrupts these processes, potassium and calcium levels may increase. Doctors refer...
The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, the blood vessels and the blood. Many factors affect your cardiovascular system and its ability to work efficiently. Blood pressure -- the measure of the force of blood against the walls of the...
Your body requires adequate amounts of potassium to keep your nerves, muscles and cells functioning normally. However, it is possible for you to have too much potassium in your bloodstream. Your medical provider may diagnose you with hyperkalemia...
Normal healthy blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/80 mm/Hg in most people. Very high or very low blood pressure is dangerous and can lead to organ damage or death. Blood pressure is regulated by many factors such as hormones,...
Increased potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia) can be caused by decreased elimination of potassium (usually due to kidney disorders) or from increased production of potassium (due to tumors or cell damage in the body). Certain medications...
Proper blood potassium levels allow your body to to balance your electrolytes. This helps your body's blood chemistry, muscle action and other important processes related to potassium. To maintain healthy levels in your blood, you need to eat a...
Many people pay more attention to maintaining their external appearance than their internal health and do not even understand the intricate processes that take place in the body's cells, organs, tissues and bloodstream. But when your blood sugar...
Hyperkalemia is the medical term for high levels of potassium in the blood. While mild hyperkalemia may not cause any symptoms or long-lasting problems, severe hyperkalemia can be life-threatening. Learning about high levels of potassium in the...
Potassium is an essential mineral for the body. It is crucial for normal organ, tissue and cell function. It is an electrolyte, along with magnesium, sodium, calcium and chloride. Electrolytes conduct electricity in the body. Potassium is...
Potassium is a mineral that's vital to the body's functions--such as helping muscles and nerves to move, maintaining electrolyte balance and reducing a person's blood pressure. Potassium is present in foods such as bananas, lima beans, avocado,...
The balance of electrolytes in the body is maintained by a function called homeostasis. Homeostasis is the body's ability to adjust and maintain normal functioning despite constant changes in blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, electrolytes,...
Potassium is an electrolyte that is readily found as a mineral in the typical diet. It is stored within the cells of the body, with a small amount left circulating in the blood. A potassium test measures the level of potassium found in the...
Potassium is an electrolyte, an electrically charged molecule important in the maintenance of fluid balance. Most potassium is found within the cells. The small amount of potassium in the bloodstream is important in muscle contraction, the...
Limiting potassium in your diet can help patients with Addison's disease. Learn how to adjust your diet to fit your specific health and nutrition needs in this healthy shopping video.
