Hyperkalemia Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis

To diagnose and treat hyperkalemia properly, one should know its definition. It is worth mentioning that the disease is spread all over the world; it occurs rather frequently. In the majority of cases (90% and more), the patients suffer from the soft type of this illness. Usually, there are no fatal consequences, and the problem is successfully solved. Mild form of this health issue is well tolerated.

It is important to recover from hyperkalemia when it is mild, as it becomes more difficult to cope with the severe form of this health condition. The core problem of the disease is the supremely high levels of potassium in the human blood. When these levels get overrated, the patient may end up dead because of the cardiac arrest. If the problem remains unrecognized and incorrectly treated, a serious form of it may end up with a high mortality rate.

It is necessary to understand what may lead to hyperkalemia in order to avoid risk factors. Potassium is an active participant in the process of muscle tissue control. This element is also a critical part of our digestion and metabolism. So, the way organism perceives and processes food depends on potassium. The element takes care of the electrical – chemical balance. The disease takes place when the level of this element exceeds the norm.

When potassium grows in its amount in the bloodstream above the accepted norm, the person may be attacked by hyperkalemia. Too much potassium release in the organism has a negative effect even though the element is necessary for our bodies. If the condition gets severe, the kidneys are no longer able to eliminate excessive potassium.

If the patient deals with asymptomatic form of this disorder, there are no definite symptoms. In other cases, doctors pay attention to such signs as nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, tiredness, general body weakness, and tingling feelings. Problems with heart rhythm (pulse) and too slow heartbeat are other issues to mind. There are times when the increase in potassium rate is too fast.

The last thing to understand is how to diagnose this illness. Health care professionals start from evaluating the levels of potassium in blood. Sometimes, they think it is the early stage of hemolysis as the symptoms look similar. Just remember the healthy rate of serum potassium – 3.5 to 5 mEq/l. make sure it is not jumping up and down. Examine kidney function creatinine and bloodstream for associated elements and their amount. Another method to discover the illness is through the estimation of trans-tubular potassium gradient. Don’t forget about the effectiveness of electrocardiography.