Hyperkalemia: causes, symptoms, to treatment

x

Definition

What is hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia is a condition in which potassium levels in the blood are higher than normal levels. The level of potassium in the blood is normally 3.0 to 5.5 millimoles per liter (mmol / L).

If the potassium level in the blood is above 5.5 mmol / L, this condition is known as hyperkalemia and requires immediate treatment. Potassium is important for heart function and has an important role in bone, muscle contraction, digestion and muscle function.

What is the role of potassium in the body?

Potassium is a mineral that is needed by most parts of your body, including your brain, nerves, heart and muscles, to work properly. You may be surprised at the fact that it will do you good.

Potassium is an electrolyte, like sodium, calcium, and other minerals. It regulates how much water is in your body and helps maintain the electrical system in your body. Potassium also does the following:

• Move nutrients to body cells and remove waste out of the body
• Calculate the effect of sodium which can regulate your blood pressure

The kidneys control how much potassium is filtered and removed from your blood. The potassium level must be balanced, so that excess or deficiency can cause chaos.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia?

People with hyperkalemia usually don't experience any symptoms. If any, the symptoms are subtle and non-specific. These symptoms usually develop slowly over weeks or months.

Because of its important role in making sure your heart contracts smoothly, hyperkalemia can cause serious symptoms. You can feel:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Muscle Weakness
• Tingling Sensation

In addition to these symptoms, hyperkalemia can lead to serious complications, such as life-threatening heart rhythm changes or cardiac arrhythmias.

This can lead to an emergency, namely ventricular fibrillation, in which the lower part of the heart beats rapidly and doesn't pump blood. Extreme levels of potassium in the blood can make the heart stop beating and cause death.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Excess potassium is usually found in the blood test that your doctor orders when loading the diagnosis. Ask the doctor about the results. You may have to change medications that affect your potassium levels. You may also need treatment to treat the underlying disease with hyperkalemia.

Cause

What causes hyperkalemia?

Kidney illness

Hyperkalemia can occur when your kidneys aren't working properly, so they can't get rid of excess potassium from your body. Kidney disease is a common cause of this condition.

The kidneys help you control the potassium balance in your body. If the kidneys are not working properly, they cannot filter out excess potassium and get rid of it from the body.

A hormone called aldosterone instructs the kidneys when to get rid of excess potassium in the body. Diseases that can decrease the productivity of this hormone, such as Addison's disease, can cause hyperkalemia.

In the first stages of kidney disease, the kidneys can repair excess potassium. However, when kidney function decreases, the potassium levels in your body can no longer be eliminated.

Diet high in potassium

Consuming too much potassium can also cause hyperkalemia, especially in people with kidney disease. Foods high in potassium, including bananas, melons, orange juice, and cantaloupe.

Medicines that prevent the kidneys from getting rid of enough potassium

Some medications can make your kidneys don't get rid of enough potassium in your body. This condition can make potassium levels increase. Several drugs are known to have an effect on potassium levels in the blood. Medicines associated with hyperkalemia include:

• Antibiotics, such as penicillin G and trimethoprim
• Azole antifungal, to treat vaginal yeast infections and other fungal infections
• Blood pressure medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Blood pressure medications called angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), although they are not as severe as ACE inhibitors in increasing potassium levels
• Blood pressure medications called beta-blockers
• Herbal supplements, such as milkweed, lily of the valley, Siberian ginseng, Hawthorn berries, dried or canned frog skin (Bufo, Chan Su, Senso)
• Heparin, a blood thinner
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Potassium supplement
• Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as triamterene, amiloride (Midamor), and spironolactone (Aldactone).

Another cause

There are several other causes of hyperkalemia, including:

• Take additional potassium supplements
• A disease called Addison that can occur when your body doesn't produce enough hormones. Hormones are chemicals that produce glands and organs, including the kidneys, to trigger certain responses in your body.
• Diabetes that is not well controlled can affect the function of the kidneys, which are responsible for the balance of potassium in the body.

Diagnosis

How is hyperkalemia diagnosed?

The doctor will check by listening to your heart rate. You will be asked questions about your medical history, diet, and drug use. Hyperkalemia may be difficult to diagnose.

Symptoms may appear mild and can be caused by a variety of health conditions. It is important to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter products, such as herbs and other supplements.

Several tests are used to diagnose hyperkalemia, such as:

• Blood test
• Urine test
• Electrocardiogram (EKG).

You will get blood and urine test results that measure your potassium levels. Your doctor will then explain the results specifically. Many things can affect the potassium levels in your body. If your potassium level is high, your doctor may order another blood test.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat hyperkalemia?

Treatment of hyperkalemia should be adjusted based on the cause, the severity of symptoms or changes in the ECG, and the patient's overall health status. The main purpose of this medication is to help the body quickly excrete potassium and stabilize the heart.

The following treatments can be done to treat hyperkalemia:

Hemodialysis

If you have hyperkalemia due to kidney failure, hemodialysis is the right treatment option for you. Hemodialysis uses a machine to remove waste products from your blood, including excess potassium, when your kidneys can't filter blood effectively.

Drug

Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the potassium level in your blood. These drugs include:

• Calcium gluconate

Calcium gluconate can help reduce the effect of excess potassium on your heart until levels stabilize.

• Diuretic

Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic, which causes you to urinate more frequently. Some diuretics can increase the amount of potassium excreted by the kidneys, while others do not. Your doctor may recommend several types of diuretics, such as loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, and thiazide diuretics.

• Resin

In some cases, you may be given a drug called a resin which is taken by mouth. The resin binds to potassium, so that it can be expelled at the same time as a bowel movement.

• Other treatments

Treatment depends on the cause of the hyperkalemia. If you have very high potassium levels, you will get emergency treatment such as an IV.

Home remedies

What can I do to prevent hyperkalemia?

If you have severe hyperkalemia, you need immediate treatment. However, if the excess potassium is mild, you can do the treatment at home. Make sure to follow your doctor's instructions for treating your potassium levels and discuss the steps below first before doing it.

Reduce your potassium intake

The easiest way to reduce potassium levels naturally is to reduce potassium intake. This means you should cut back on high-potassium foods and supplements. Some high-potassium foods are:

• Banana
• Whole grains
• Nuts
• Milk
• Potato
• Apricot

Talk to your doctor about your low potassium diet plan. You can also ask the same thing to a nutritionist.

Eat foods low in potassium

Foods that are considered low in potassium are those with less than 200mg of potassium per serving. These foods include:

• Berries, such as strawberries and blueberries
• Apple
• Grape
• Pineapple
• Cranberry or cranberry juice
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• White rice
• White paste
• White flour
• Salmon

Avoid canned foods

If possible, replace canned foods with fresh or frozen foods. Potassium in canned foods dissolves in canned water. This water can cause a surge in potassium in your body.

The water in canned foods is high in salt, which can cause the body to retain water. This can lead to complications in your kidneys.

Remove potassium from the vegetables you eat

If you are cooking vegetables that are high in potassium, you do not need to always replace them with other vegetables. You simply release a little potassium content in these vegetables. The National Kidney Foundation provides the following suggestions for preparing potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, or beets:

• Peel the vegetables and place them in cold water so they don't darken
• Cut the vegetables into thin slices
• Wash the vegetables in warm water for a few seconds
• Soak the vegetable slices in warm water for at least two hours. Use 10 times more water than the vegetables. If you are soaking the vegetables a little longer, be sure to change the water every four hours.
• Wash the vegetables in warm water
• Cook with five times more water than the vegetables

Check for salt substitutes

Some salt substitutes are also high in potassium. When buying salt substitutes, make sure you avoid potassium chloride in the ingredient list. Foods with added ingredients, such as sports drinks are also known to be high in potassium.

Drink more water

Dehydration can make hyperkalemia worse. Make sure you drink enough water every day.

Avoid some spices

If you consume spices for any reason, make sure the spices you consume are not high in potassium.

Limit coffee

Be careful when consuming coffee every day. The National Kidney Foundation recommends people with hyperkalemia conditions limit coffee to drinking only one cup per day.

Don't overdo your potassium intake

As with reducing potassium intake, ensuring adequate intake is equally important for people with kidney disease. Make sure you consume a small amount of potassium in your diet. Fortunately, it is easy to find potassium in a balanced diet.