Hyperkalemia: can have deadly consequences
Topping the charts
Hyperkalemia is when the potassium level in your blood is higher than normal. Potassium is a chemical critical to the function of muscle cells, nerves and including your heart.
Requires treatment
A normal level of potassium in the blood is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per litre (mmol/L). Having a blood potassium level higher than 6.0 mmol/L can be dangerous and usually requires immediate treatment.
Balancing the scales
The kidneys regulate potassium levels and If you have kidney disease, controlling the amount of potassium in your diet is very important, since eating too much can lead to further kidney damage.
Hyperkalemia - Predialysis Patients
More than half of predialysis kidney patients develop hyperkalemia.
Quick Simple Blood Test
A person's potassium levels can be easily checked with a simple blood test.
Common Symptoms
Tinkling and Numbness
Having excess potassium in the blood is known to affect nerve function.
Irregular Heartbeat or Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia happen when high potassium causes damage to the muscles that control your heart.
Irregular heartbeat is when your heart beats either too slow or too fast.
Nausea and/or Vomiting
High potassium is also known to adversely impact your gastrointestinal health causing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramping, and for some diarrhea.
Shortness of Breath
Arrhythmia happen when high potassium causes damage to the muscles that control your heart.
Muscle Weakness
High levels of potassium in the bloodstream can have an serious effect on your heart muscles and other muscles of the body. Causing weakness and fatigue.
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors
People with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes and those taking blood pressure medicines called renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) have an estimated 2 to 3 times higher risk for hyperkalemia.
High
Potassium is found mostly in fruits and vegetables. Foods with a high amount of potassium, or greater than 200 mg per portion, include:
- apricots
- asparagus
- avocados
- bananas
- beans
- cantaloupe
- cooked dried fruits
- grapefruit honeydew
- ketchup
- legumes
- lentils
- nectarines
- oranges
- potatoes
- pumpkin
- raisins
- squash
Low
Foods low in potassium include:
- apples
- asparagus
- celery
- cherries
- okra
- peaches
- pears
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