Elevated potassium in the blood: causes and treatment

The composition of the blood is very diverse. It contains many substances that are responsible for carrying out certain processes in the body. It is very important to maintain a constant ionic composition of the blood. Indeed, only in such a state can cellular reactions proceed correctly. A special role among ions belongs to potassium. A trace element ensures the normal functioning of the heart. It is involved in biochemical processes in the brain and certain organs of the digestive tract. All of these systems can fail if there is increased potassium in the blood. The reasons for this condition require detailed study.

The role of potassium for the body

This trace element contained in the cells is responsible for many processes in the body. It adjusts the water balance, normalizes heart rate. In addition, potassium affects the functioning of most cells, especially muscle and nerve cells.

This trace element stimulates clarity of mind, helps the body get rid of toxins and toxins, improves brain oxygen enrichment. Potassium exposure is similar to immunomodulators. The trace element effectively helps fight allergies and helps lower blood pressure.

Thus, the role of potassium for the body is as follows:

1. Adjustment of acid-base balance in the blood, water balance of cell and intercellular fluid, water-salt balance, osmotic pressure.
2. The transmission of nerve impulses.
3. Activation of certain enzymes, carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
4. Ensuring a normal heart rate.
5. Protein synthesis, conversion to glucose glycogen.
6. Ensuring normalization of the kidneys (excretory function).
7. Improving intestinal activity.
8. Support normal pressure.

Given all this, it is very important to understand what is hidden, if diagnosed with increased potassium in the blood, the causes of this phenomenon. But before you understand the sources of pathology, you should touch on another important issue.

What is the danger of an elevated level?

The microelement content in the body is completely dependent on processes such as:

• potassium intake with food;
• its distribution in the body;
• trace element withdrawal.

In the human body, no "depot" is provided for potassium. Therefore, any deviation from the required level can provoke a variety of violations. Let's understand why potassium in the blood is increased or decreased, and what is its norm.

Initially, we consider what trace element content is considered acceptable.

For humans, both a deficiency and an excess of potassium are dangerous. Increased potassium in the blood, if the analysis shows a trace mineral in plasma exceeding 5.5. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with hyperkalemia.

Depending on the amount of "excess" potassium, the patient may develop:

1. Muscle paralysis. The condition may be temporary. He is accompanied by general weakness.
2. Heart rhythm disturbances. The patient may have ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia and other no less unpleasant conditions. Some of them can even lead to death.
3. Violation of respiratory function, up to a stop.

False reasons for increasing

So, why can there be increased potassium in the blood? The reasons for this condition are true or false. We will talk about the first later. Now let's consider what factors can show false hyperkalemia. All of them are associated with impaired blood sampling.

An analysis may show an increased potassium content if:

• the shoulder was compressed for a long time with a tourniquet (more than 2-3 minutes);
• biological material was not properly stored;
• blood sampling occurred after the introduction of potassium preparations into the body;
• a vein was injured during the analysis;
• the patient has an increased level of leukocytes, platelets.

If the doctor doubts the results of the study, then the patient is recommended to pass a second analysis.

Main reasons

Now we turn to the true sources, in which there is an increased level of potassium in the blood. The reasons may lie in the influence of external factors or be a consequence of internal pathologies.

The sources of hyperkalemia are often:

1. Excessive abuse of foods containing large amounts of potassium. Foods such as nuts, cauliflower, dried fruits, mushrooms, molasses, bananas, increase the trace element in blood plasma. However, a pathological condition can develop only if the patient has a violation of the kidneys, in particular excretory function.
2. Significant isolation from potassium cells. Such a redistribution of ions can be dictated by various disorders in the body. Most often, this symptomatology manifests itself with a low insulin content, an increased concentration of glucose, acidosis (acidification of intercellular fluid). Failure of metabolic processes, in which potassium rises in the intercellular fluid, can be observed with the decay of tumor formations, extensive burns, massive damage to muscle fibers.
3. Low urine output. The main reason for this condition is a kidney pathology, in which a deficiency of excretory function is diagnosed. An unpleasant phenomenon can be dictated by some other diseases. Often, hyperkalemia occurs against a background of insufficiency of the adrenal cortex, diabetic nephropathy, systemic ailments (such as lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis).

Medical reasons

There is another source, as a result of which doctors say that potassium in the blood is elevated. The causes of this condition may be hidden in the use of certain medications. You should be aware that some medications often lead to quite unpleasant symptoms.

Hyperkalemia can trigger:

1. NSAIDs.
2. Potassium-sparing diuretics: Triamteren, Spironolokton.
3. Substances with a high concentration of cations. This is a variety of plant harvests from nettles, milkweed, dandelions.
4. Medicines that can interfere with the transport of potassium through the cell membrane. Such drugs are cardiac glycosides, beta-blockers, the drug "Mannitol".
5. Means that lower the release of aldosterone. These are antifungal medications, ACE blockers, and Heparin.

Characteristic symptoms

Correctly determine the causes of high potassium plasma can only be a doctor. But the patient himself must pay attention to those clues with which the body signals a problem.

With hyperkalemia, the patient has the following symptoms:

• hyperactivity, increased irritability, irritability, anxiety, excessive sweating;
• degenerative muscular-nervous disorders, muscle weakness is manifested;
• arrhythmia, neurocirculatory dystonia occurs;
• muscle paralysis is observed;
• intestines are disturbed, the patient is suffering from colic;
• there is an urination disorder (this is an increase in the process).

Diagnostic Methods

High blood potassium levels can only be detected with laboratory tests.

To make a diagnosis, patients are prescribed the following tests:

1. Blood donation. The norm is the content of 3.5-5.5 mmol / l in blood serum. In the presence of pathology, the cation content is increased.
2. Analysis of urine. Allows you to diagnose the concentration of potassium excreted from the body.
3. ECG. The pathology is indicated by an increased amplitude of the T wave, an elongated ventricular complex.

Pathology treatment

Remember, this is a fairly serious condition if the patient has elevated potassium in the blood. The causes and treatment of the disease can only be adequately interpreted by a specialist.

In addition, the severe course of hyperkalemia can lead, as mentioned above, to dangerous conditions for a person: respiratory arrest or heart failure. That is why treatment begins as soon as the patient is diagnosed.

Therapy includes the following activities:

1. Intravenous administration of potassium antagonists. Strictly controlling cardiac activity, the doctor prescribes "Calcium Gluconate."
2. Redistribution of the cation into the cells. As a result, its concentration in the blood decreases. For such purposes, the following drugs are administered intravenously: Insulin and Glucose.
3. Ensuring the normal withdrawal of potassium from the body with urine. Thiazide diuretics, such as Furosemide, are recommended.
4. Dialysis. Using a special apparatus, they purify the blood. A similar event is prescribed for severe illness.
5. Laxatives, ion exchange resins. These funds are aimed at delaying the cation in the intestine and its output with feces.
6. Betta Mimetics. The drug "Salbutamol" stimulates the movement of potassium into cells.

Important recommendation

However, remember: it is important to establish the true, if diagnosed with increased potassium in the blood, the causes of this condition. After all, it is necessary to fight with the underlying disease, and not with its symptoms. If the ailment is provoked by taking medication, then the doctor will reduce the dosage or completely cancel the drug that provoked the pathology. In addition, patients are advised to diet, which implies the exclusion of foods containing a high concentration of cation.