what is the cause of too much potassium in the blood?
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The most common cause of genuinely high potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys, such as: Acute kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease.
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Potassium. Potassium is a mineral that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. When too much salt, or sodium, in food increases a person's blood pressure, potassium clears the sodium from the body. Sodium causes high blood pressure because it stops the kidneys from removing water from the body efficiently.
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However, when kidneys do not work well, they may not be able to remove enough potassium. This means that potassium can build up in your blood to harmful levels. Eat a diet high in potassium. Eating too much food that is high in potassium can also cause hyperkalemia, especially in people with advanced kidney disease.
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Why You Need Potassium For starters, it helps your blood pressure. It does this in two different ways: First, with the aid your kidneys, potassium helps remove extra sodium from your body through your urine. This is a good thing, because too much sodium can cause high blood pressure.
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According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal range of potassium is between 3.6 and 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) of blood. A potassium level higher than 5.5 mmol/L is critically high, and a potassium level over 6 mmol/L can be life-threatening. Small variations in ranges may be possible depending on the laboratory.
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Damaged kidneys allow potassium to build up in the blood, causing serious heart problems. Potassium is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, potatoes, avocados, and melons. People with advanced CKD may need to avoid some fruits and vegetables.
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Hypernatremia (High Level of Sodium in the Blood) In hypernatremia, the level of sodium in blood is too high. Hypernatremia involves dehydration, which can have many causes, including not drinking enough fluids, diarrhea, kidney dysfunction, and diuretics.
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Most iodine supplements contain potassium. Taking potassium iodide along with some medications for high blood pressure might cause too much potassium in the body. Do not take potassium iodide if you are taking medications for high blood pressure.
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When kidneys fail they can no longer remove excess potassium, so the level builds up in the body. High potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia, which may occur in people with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some of the effects of high potassium are nausea, weakness, numbness and slow pulse.
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When potassium levels drop below 3.0 mEq/L (mEq/L stand for milliequivalents per liter of blood) the body enters a condition known as hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can lead directly to cardiac arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation. But hypokalemia can also cause: Muscle weakness.
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Too much sodium consumption can increase blood pressure and cause the body to hold onto fluid. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.
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Hyperkalemia is a frequent finding in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This increase in serum potassium levels is associated with decreased renal ion excretion, as well as the use of medications to reduce the progression of CKD or to control associated diseases such as diabetes mellitus and heart failure.
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As kidneys become less able to remove potassium from your blood, too much potassium may build up. Often, like high blood pressure, there aren't many symptoms of high potassium (hyperkalemia). Feeling sick to your stomach, a low, weak or irregular pulse and fainting may occur with high levels of potassium.
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Having too much potassium in your blood can be dangerous. Potassium affects the way your heart's muscles work. When you have too much potassium, your heart may beat irregularly, which in the worst cases, can cause heart attack. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 for emergency help.
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Kidney failure is the most common cause of high potassium. When your kidneys fail or don't function properly, they can't remove extra potassium from your body. This can lead to potassium buildup.
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If hyperkalemia comes on suddenly and you have very high levels of potassium, you may feel heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting. Sudden or severe hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition. It requires immediate medical care.
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Some medications used to treat high blood pressure may also increase your potassium level. They include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and renin inhibitors.