HIGH BLOOD POTASSIUM

High Blood Potassium has an excessive potassium concentration in the blood. Potassium is an electrolyte, a mineral that your body requires to function correctly. Potassium is very beneficial to your nerves and muscles, as well as your heart.

While potassium is essential for good health, too much of it can be just as detrimental as, if not worse than, not enough. Your kidneys usually maintain a healthy potassium balance by eliminating excess potassium from your body. However, the quantity of potassium in your blood can become excessively high for various reasons. Hyperkalemia, or excess potassium, is the medical term for this condition.

SYMPTOMS

The signs and symptoms of high potassium are determined by the mineral’s concentration in your blood. It’s possible that you don’t have any symptoms at all. However, if your potassium levels are high enough to produce symptoms, you may experience the following:

  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Pain in the abdomen (belly)
  • Diarrhea
  • Chest pain
  • Palpitations or arrhythmia
  • Tingling or numbness

DIAGNOSIS

Since most individuals have no signs, you may not realize you have excessive potassium unless you have a regular blood test. The quantity of potassium in the blood is determined via a serum potassium test. An electrocardiogram (ECG) may also be ordered by your doctor. This test detects variations in cardiac rhythm induced by elevated potassium levels in the blood

TREATMENT

The most common motive of treatment for excessive potassium levels is to assist your body in quickly eliminating the excess potassium and stabilizing your heart.

  • Diuretic. These are tablets that induce you to urinate more frequently, may also be prescribed by your doctor.
  • Intravenous (IV) therapy. Incredibly (HP) levels must be treated immediately. To safeguard your heart, you will be given an IV calcium injection. Following that, you will receive an insulin injection, which will aid in the movement of potassium into the blood cells. To drop potassium levels, even more, you can inhale albuterol, an asthmatic drug.
  • Resin. You may be given a resin treatment to take by mouth in some circumstances. The resin binds to potassium and allows it to pass through your body during bowel movements.
  • Potassium binders. These are medications that attach to excess potassium in the intestines regularly.
  • Hemodialysis. If your (K) levels keep rising or you have renal problems, you may require dialysis. This medication assists your kidneys in removing extra (K) from your blood.

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