Hyperkalemia Adult

What is hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia (hi-per-KAH-le-me-ah) is a condition where the level of potassium in your blood is higher than normal. Potassium is an electrolyte (mineral) that is normally found in the body and keeps your body working properly. Potassium helps control how your muscles, heart, and digestive system work by moving into and out of cells. Most potassium in the body is found inside cells. Hyperkalemia happens when too much potassium is outside of the cell and stays in the blood.

What causes hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia may be caused by an increase in your body's total potassium. It can also be caused by a large amount of potassium that is released from the cells into the bloodstream. Any of the following conditions can lead to hyperkalemia:

• Intense and prolonged exercise.
  
  
• Medical conditions, such as Addison's disease, HIV infection, tuberculosis, kidney diseases, or uncontrolled diabetes.
  
  
• Medicines such as potassium sparing diuretics (which cause you to urinate more) or painkillers. Heart or blood pressure medicines and some herbal medicines are other examples.
  
  
• Eating too much of a food that is high in potassium. Examples of these foods are bananas, orange juice, tomatoes, potatoes, or salt substitutes. This condition usually happens when your kidneys are not working very well.
  
  
• Trauma, such as muscle injury, burns, or surgery.

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia?

• Abdominal (stomach) cramping, nausea (upset stomach), vomiting (throwing up), or diarrhea (loose bowel movement).
  
  
• Fast or slow heartbeats, palpitations (strong heartbeats), or arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
  
  
• Irritability or anxiety.
  
  
• Little or no urine.
  
  
• Muscle twitching or a feeling of pins and needles on the skin.
  
  
• Muscle weakness.
  
  
• Trouble breathing.

How is hyperkalemia diagnosed?

You may need any of the following tests:

• Heart monitor: This test is also called an EKG or ECG. Sticky pads are placed on your skin to record your heart's electrical activity. An EKG gives information about how your heart is working. Lie as still as possible during the test.
  
  
• Serum potassium: Your blood will be checked for the level of potassium. You have hyperkalemia if your blood potassium level is 5.0 mmol/L (millimoles per liter) or higher.

How is hyperkalemia treated?

• Medicines:
  
  
  • Calcium: This medicine may be given to reverse the effects of hyperkalemia, such as arrhythmias of the heart.
    
    
  • Diuretics: These medicines are often called water pills. Diuretics may help your body get rid of extra potassium by removing extra fluid from your body. You may urinate more often when taking diuretics.
    
    
  • Insulin and glucose: Insulin may help your body move sugar into your cells along with potassium. This will decrease the amount of potassium in your blood. Glucose will increase the amount of sugar in your blood , which may be decreased by insulin.
    
    
  • Sodium bicarbonate: This medicine may be used if acidosis (an acidic condition of the body) is causing the hyperkalemia. This medicine may cause potassium to move back into the cells and out of the blood.
  
  
• Cation exchange resin: This may help decrease potassium by exchanging potassium with sodium. Potassium is pulled from the blood into the cell and sodium is pulled from the cell into the blood. This may be taken by mouth or given through your rectum (rear end), such as an enema.
  
  
• Dialysis: You may need to have dialysis if medicines cannot decrease your potassium or you cannot take the medicine. This may be done especially if you have a kidney disease.

Where can I find more information?

Having hyperkalemia may be hard for you and your family. Contact the following for more information:

• American Academy of Family Physicians
  11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
  Leawood , KS 66211-2680
  Phone: 1- 913 - 906-6000
  Phone: 1- 800 - 274-2237
  Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
  

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  Building 31, room 9A04 Center Drive, MSC 2560
  Bethesda , MD 208922560
  Web Address: http://www.niddk.nih.gov
  

• National Kidney Foundation
  30 East 33rd Street
  New York , NY 10016
  Phone: 1- 212 - 889-2210
  Phone: 1- 800 - 622-9010
  Web Address: http://www.kidney.org
  

Care Agreement

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