High Potassium Symptoms
Nausea and kidney disorders occur due to high potassium levels in the body. In this article you will know the various symptoms and the main cause of excess potassium in blood.
It's a very old saying that "Anything in excess is not good", and the same goes for potassium. High potassium levels leads to a disease which is known as hyperkalemia. One of the major causes of high potassium is the disability of the kidney to filter out potassium from the blood.
Signs and Symptoms of High Potassium
A healthy immune system needs potassium for normal functioning of the heart, muscles and various nerves and tissues of the body. Hyperkalemia symptoms occurs as a result of excess consumption of foods and other drugs which have high levels of potassium in them. Potassium levels are kept under observation whenever a patient is being treated for any kidney or heart condition. A normal blood test can also reveal if a patient is suffering from a high potassium disorder.
Nausea
Nausea is one of the common symptoms. An uneasy feeling, nausea feels as if you want to vomit. There are various other complications that can cause this uneasy feeling. In a patient suffering from high potassium levels, complaints of nauseousness are common.
Kidney Failure
Medications which are used to treat high blood pressure can have side effects on kidneys which causes them to retain potassium rather than filter it our through urine. Therefore kidney failure can also be one of the symptoms of high potassium.
Muscle Weakness
Hyperkalemic paralysis affects more than 200,000 people every year in the US. It's caused by a hereditary genetic mutation, this condition develops in early childhood and is named as muscle weakness. Although these weaknesses are temporary, it becomes often as the age increases. Eating potassium rich foods can lead to a rise in its levels.
Cardiac Complications
Heart attacks or reduced heartbeat can be caused due to hyperkalemia. When a person has suffered an injury or is in trauma, antibiotics prescribed or chemotherapy can cause a rise in potassium levels. If the blood doesn't filter out potassium, cardiac arrest can happen.
Foods High in Potassium
Potassium is a mineral which consists of 19 protons and electrons. Indicated by the symbol (K), potassium is essential for normal functioning of all body cells and muscle function. The following list is of foods which are high in this mineral and harmful for those suffering from hyperkalemia.
- Almonds
- Apricots
- Artichoke
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Lima Beans
- Pinto Beans
- Beets
- Black-eyed peas
- Brazil nuts
- Brussels sprouts
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot Juice
- Chickpeas
- Dates
- Figs, dry
- Kiwi fruit
- Lentils
- Melons
- Milk, fat free or skim
- Orange juice
- Pears (fresh)
- Peanuts dry roasted, unsalted
- Potato
- Prune juice
- Prune, dried
- Raisins
- Spinach
- Tomato canned sauce
- Tomato Juice
- Winter squash
- Yogurt plain
Various medication are available for this condition, medication used to treat symptoms of high potassium include insulin, beta agonists and sodium bicarbonate. People with high levels of potassium in blood should take special measures to control potassium levels. Those who already suffer from kidney complications should follow a renal diet which limits the consumption of foods like bananas, oranges, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Patients suffering from hyperkalemia should have a blood test check every three months to prevent rise of potassium levels in blood.
Our body needs potassium to build proteins, have smooth metabolism, build muscle and to ensure a balance in the nervous system. High levels of potassium also cause contraction of muscles of heart and body. High potassium symptoms include fatigue, irregular heartbeat, paralysis, tingling in skin and numbness. If immediate medical attention is not taken death may occur.
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