High Potassium Levels in Blood

Potassium is essential for carrying out some of the most vital functions of our body. It is responsible for controlling the various activities of the different muscles in our body. In normal conditions, it regulates the electrical rhythm of the heart, as well as the electrical signals of the nervous system. Potassium is also important because it prevents our cells from getting dehydrated. When the potassium levels in blood become high, it is known as hyperkalemia. If not treated immediately, significantly high levels of potassium in blood can even cause death.

Causes of High Potassium Levels in Blood

Potassium is present in the cells in our body. Hardly 2 percent of the total potassium of our body is found in the bloodstream. Due to certain medical conditions, sometimes, the potassium located inside the cells is drawn out and released in the blood, which results in high potassium in blood. There are some medicines like hypertension medications or anti-inflammatory (non-steroidal) drugs which can lead to high levels of potassium in blood. Those who are suffering from type 1 diabetes may also have increased levels of potassium in the blood.

High potassium levels in blood is also seen in people suffering from conditions where cells and tissues of the body are destroyed on a large scale. Any form of trauma, surgery, or burn causes destruction of tissues, while destruction of muscle cells are mostly due to injury, alcoholism, drug abuse, and destruction of tumor cells.

Malfunctioning of the kidneys is another cause of high potassium levels in blood. When there is an excess amount of potassium in our body, the kidney helps to excrete it out through urine. If there is any kidney failure, kidney stones, transplant rejection etc., the kidney fails to carry out this function, and thus the potassium levels become high in the blood.

Among the various hormones secreted by the adrenal glands, aldosterone is a hormone which is responsible for elimination of potassium into the urine. If the adrenal gland is affected by some disease, like Addison's disease which often decreases the aldosterone secretion, there will be decrease in the quantity of potassium ejected out of the body. This can result in hyperkalemia.

Symptoms and Treatment of High Potassium Levels in Blood

When there is only a mild increase in the potassium levels in blood, it may not show any symptoms. Even when potassium level increases in blood slowly, the symptoms are not very visible. Common symptoms of high levels of potassium is a slow heart beat and weak pulse rate. Other symptoms include weakness in muscles, which may lead to difficulty in moving the limbs, tiredness, nausea, etc. If the condition turns severe, it may cause the heart to stop beating completely. In some rare cases, hyperkalemia is found as a genetic disorder. In such situations, the potassium levels in blood become high suddenly and cause paralysis of muscles.

High potassium levels in blood can be diagnosed with the help of blood tests, followed by an ECG to confirm the condition. Doctors then figure out the underlying causes behind high potassium levels in blood and then treat the patient accordingly. When there is a mild increase in the potassium levels in blood, then the patient can be treated as outpatients only. However, when there is significant increase, the patient has to be admitted into the intensive care unit.

If you are suffering from any health problems discussed in this article, then you should thoroughly follow the instructions of your doctor in order to keep the condition under control. High potassium levels in blood can be effectively brought down by following a low potassium diet plan.