In today’s busy lifestyles, people often fail to notice when they are unwell unless symptoms become very serious. Mild tiredness or muscle weakness rarely prompts a doctor’s visit.
However, for a person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or heart failure (HF), these may be early signs of high potassium (hyperkalaemia – excessive potassium in the blood). This condition often progresses without any obvious signs and can become life-threatening if not treated in time.
The global prevalence of hyperkalaemia is estimated at around 6% to 7%. However, in patients with CKD or HF, the risk can rise sharply to 40–50%. Hence, it is important to raise awareness so that at-risk patients can take proactive steps to prevent or manage this condition.
What is hyperkalaemia?
Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in keeping your muscles strong, your nerves healthy, and your heartbeat regular. When blood potassium levels rise above 5 mEq/L, a condition is called hyperkalemia that can silently threaten your health, especially your heart.
In the early stages (mild hyperkalaemia), there are often no symptoms. Many people might not even realise they have it. However, if potassium levels continue to rise, it can cause muscle weakness, tingling sensations, fatigue, or irregular heartbeats. In severe cases (extreme hyperkalaemia), it can cause dangerous heart rhythm disturbances and sudden cardiac arrest.
Who is at risk?
High potassium levels are common in people with chronic kidney disease, as healthy kidneys usually remove extra potassium. It is also seen in those with heart failure, diabetes, or those taking certain medications such as blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics).
Why early detection matters
Hyperkalemia can easily be detected by a simple blood test. Early diagnosis allows doctors to manage the condition before it becomes serious. Ignoring high potassium can result in life-threatening complications.
Which foods are rich in potassium
Potassium is found in many healthy foods, including bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and dry fruits. While these foods are good for most people, those at risk of high potassium may need to limit their intake as per the advice of their doctor or dietitian.
How is high potassium treated?
Treatment depends on how high the potassium level is and the underlying cause. It may include:
• Dietary changes: Reducing high-potassium foods after medical advice.
• Adjusting medications: Modifying or changing medicines that raise potassium.
• Diuretics: Water tablets are prescribed to encourage urination and remove excess potassium, which helps to keep potassium levels under permissible levels in high-risk patients.
• Potassium binders: Special medicines doctors prescribe that help safely eliminate potassium through stools. Newer potassium binders have shown immense promise in stabilising potassium levels safely and effectively.
• Tablet sodium bicarbonate: This tablet helps lower high potassium levels by making the blood less acidic, which pushes potassium back into the body's cells and reduces its level in the blood. It is especially useful when high potassium is linked to conditions like kidney problems with acidosis.
• Emergency treatment: In severe cases, urgent hospital treatment may be needed to reduce potassium levels quickly.
Health Tips to Prevent High Potassium
• Know your risk: If you have kidney problems, heart failure, or diabetes, check your potassium regularly.
• Know the SAFE range: A potassium level between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L is normal.
• Manage your diet carefully: Avoid drastic dietary changes without professional advice. Some healthy foods can be risky in kidney disease.
• Use medications wisely: Always inform your doctor about all your medicines, as some common drugs can raise potassium.
• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can worsen potassium imbalance.
• Monitor regularly: Regular blood tests can detect early problems.
• Don’t ignore symptoms: Muscle weakness, palpitations, or unexplained tiredness should never be ignored.
(ByDr. Sanjay N. Pandya, Consulting Nephrologist, Rajkot, Gujarat)
However, for a person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or heart failure (HF), these may be early signs of high potassium (hyperkalaemia – excessive potassium in the blood). This condition often progresses without any obvious signs and can become life-threatening if not treated in time.
The global prevalence of hyperkalaemia is estimated at around 6% to 7%. However, in patients with CKD or HF, the risk can rise sharply to 40–50%. Hence, it is important to raise awareness so that at-risk patients can take proactive steps to prevent or manage this condition.
What is hyperkalaemia?
Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in keeping your muscles strong, your nerves healthy, and your heartbeat regular. When blood potassium levels rise above 5 mEq/L, a condition is called hyperkalemia that can silently threaten your health, especially your heart.
In the early stages (mild hyperkalaemia), there are often no symptoms. Many people might not even realise they have it. However, if potassium levels continue to rise, it can cause muscle weakness, tingling sensations, fatigue, or irregular heartbeats. In severe cases (extreme hyperkalaemia), it can cause dangerous heart rhythm disturbances and sudden cardiac arrest.
Who is at risk?
High potassium levels are common in people with chronic kidney disease, as healthy kidneys usually remove extra potassium. It is also seen in those with heart failure, diabetes, or those taking certain medications such as blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics).
Why early detection matters
Hyperkalemia can easily be detected by a simple blood test. Early diagnosis allows doctors to manage the condition before it becomes serious. Ignoring high potassium can result in life-threatening complications.
Which foods are rich in potassium
Potassium is found in many healthy foods, including bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and dry fruits. While these foods are good for most people, those at risk of high potassium may need to limit their intake as per the advice of their doctor or dietitian.
How is high potassium treated?
Treatment depends on how high the potassium level is and the underlying cause. It may include:
• Dietary changes: Reducing high-potassium foods after medical advice.
• Adjusting medications: Modifying or changing medicines that raise potassium.
• Diuretics: Water tablets are prescribed to encourage urination and remove excess potassium, which helps to keep potassium levels under permissible levels in high-risk patients.
• Potassium binders: Special medicines doctors prescribe that help safely eliminate potassium through stools. Newer potassium binders have shown immense promise in stabilising potassium levels safely and effectively.
• Tablet sodium bicarbonate: This tablet helps lower high potassium levels by making the blood less acidic, which pushes potassium back into the body's cells and reduces its level in the blood. It is especially useful when high potassium is linked to conditions like kidney problems with acidosis.
• Emergency treatment: In severe cases, urgent hospital treatment may be needed to reduce potassium levels quickly.
Health Tips to Prevent High Potassium
• Know your risk: If you have kidney problems, heart failure, or diabetes, check your potassium regularly.
• Know the SAFE range: A potassium level between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L is normal.
• Manage your diet carefully: Avoid drastic dietary changes without professional advice. Some healthy foods can be risky in kidney disease.
• Use medications wisely: Always inform your doctor about all your medicines, as some common drugs can raise potassium.
• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can worsen potassium imbalance.
• Monitor regularly: Regular blood tests can detect early problems.
• Don’t ignore symptoms: Muscle weakness, palpitations, or unexplained tiredness should never be ignored.
(ByDr. Sanjay N. Pandya, Consulting Nephrologist, Rajkot, Gujarat)
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