Elevated potassium in the blood: causes and treatment

The composition of the blood is very diverse. There are many substances in it that are responsible for carrying out certain processes in the body. It is very important to maintain a constant ionic blood composition. After all, only in this state can the cell reactions proceed correctly. A special role among the ions belongs to potassium. The microelement ensures normal functioning of the heart. He participates in biochemical processes in the brain and certain organs of the digestive tract. All these systems can fail if there is an elevated potassium in the blood. The reasons for this state require detailed study.

The role of potassium for the body

This microelement, contained in cells, is responsible for many processes occurring in the body. It regulates the water balance, normalizes the heart rhythm. In addition, potassium affects the functioning of most cells, especially muscle and nerve cells.

This microelement stimulates clarity of mind, helps the body get rid of toxins and toxins, improves oxygenation of the brain. The potassium effect is similar to immunomodulators. The microelement effectively helps to combat allergies and helps to lower the pressure.

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

1. Adjustment of acid-base balance in blood, water balance of cellular and intercellular fluid, water-salt balance, osmotic pressure.
2. Transmission of nerve impulses.
3. Activation of certain enzymes, carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
4. Providing a normal heart rate.
5. Synthesis of protein, conversion to glycogen glucose.
6. Ensuring the normalization of kidney function (excretory function).
7. Improved bowel activity.
8. Support of normal pressure.

Given all this, it is very important to understand what is hidden, if an elevated potassium in the blood is diagnosed, the reasons for such a phenomenon. But before you figure out the sources of pathology, one more important question should be touched upon.

What is dangerous for an elevated level?

The content of a microelement in the body depends entirely on such processes as:

• Drinking potassium with food;
• Its distribution in the body;
• Micronutrient removal.

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 elevated or lowered, and its norm is what it is.

Initially, we will consider what content of the microelement is considered acceptable.

For a person, both a lack and an excess of potassium are dangerous. Increased potassium in the blood, if the analysis shows the content of microelements in the plasma, exceeding the value of 5.5. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with hyperkalemia.

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

1. Paralysis of muscle tissue. The condition can be temporary. He is accompanied by a general weakness.
2. Heart rhythm disturbances. The patient may experience ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia and other equally unpleasant conditions. Some of them can even lead to death.
3. Disturbance of respiratory function, up to a stop.

False Reasons for Boosting

So, why can there be elevated potassium in the blood? The reasons for this state are true or false. About the first, we'll talk later. And now consider what factors can show false hyperkalemia. All of them are associated with impaired blood sampling technique.

The analysis can show an elevated potassium content if:

• For a long time the shoulder was compressed by a tourniquet (more than 2-3 minutes);
• Biological material was not properly stored;
• The collection of blood occurred after the introduction of potassium in the body;
• During the analysis, the vein was injured;
• The patient has an elevated level of leukocytes, platelets.

If the doctor doubts the results of the study, the patient is recommended to re-analyze.

Main reasons

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

Often sources of hyperkalemia are:

1. Excessive abuse of products containing large amounts of potassium. Such food as nuts, cauliflower, dried fruits, mushrooms, molasses, bananas, helps to increase the trace element in the blood plasma. However, the pathological condition can develop only if the patient has a disturbed kidney function, in particular, the excretory function.
2. Significant excretion from the cells of potassium. Such redistribution of ions can be dictated by various disorders in the body. Most often, this symptomatology manifests itself with a low content of insulin, increased glucose concentration, acidosis (acidification of the intercellular fluid). The failure of metabolic processes, in which potassium is increased in the intercellular fluid, can be observed during the disintegration of tumor formations, extensive burns, massive damage to muscle fibers.
3. Low excretion in urine. The main cause of this condition is renal pathology, in which the insufficiency of the excretory function is diagnosed. An unpleasant phenomenon can be dictated by some other diseases. Often, hyperkalemia occurs against the 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 can be hidden in the use of certain medications. You should be aware that some medications often lead to a rather unpleasant symptomatology.

Hyperkalemia can be provoked by:

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

Characteristic symptomatology

Correctly to determine the causes of high potassium plasma can only the doctor. But the patient himself should pay attention to those tips that the body signals about the problem.

With hyperkalemia, the patient has the following symptoms:

• Hyperactivity, increased irritability, excitability, anxiety, excessive sweating;
• Degenerative musculoskeletal disorders, muscle weakness manifests;
• Arrhythmia, there is a neurocirculatory dystonia ;
• Muscle paralysis is observed;
• The work of the intestine is broken, the patient is tortured by colic;
• There is an upset urination (it is about the process more frequent).

Methods of diagnosis

To reveal the raised or increased maintenance or contents of a potassium in a blood it is possible only by means of laboratory researches.

To make a diagnosis, patients are prescribed such tests:

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

Treatment of pathology

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

In addition, the severe course of hyperkalemia can lead, as stated above, to conditions dangerous to humans: stopping breathing or the heart. That is why the treatment begins immediately, as soon as the patient is diagnosed.

Therapy includes the following activities:

1. Intravenous administration of potassium antagonists. Strictly controlling cardiac activity, the doctor appoints "Calcium gluconate".
2. Redistribution of cation inside cells. As a result, its concentration in the blood decreases. For such purposes, intravenously inject drugs: "Insulin" and "Glucose".
3. Providing a normal withdrawal of potassium from the body with urine. Recommended thiazide diuretics, such as the drug "Furosemide."
4. Dialysis. With the help of a special apparatus, the blood is purified. Such an event is appointed in the severe course of the disease.
5. Laxative medicines, ion exchange resins. These funds are aimed at delaying the cation in the intestine and bringing it out with the feces.
6. Betta mimetics. The drug "Salbutamol" stimulates the movement inside the cells of potassium.

Important recommendation

However, remember: it is important to establish the true causes of such a condition if an elevated potassium in the blood is diagnosed. After all, it is necessary to fight with the underlying disease, and not with its symptoms. If the ailment is provoked by taking medications, the doctor will lower the dosage or completely abolish the drug that triggered the pathology. In addition, patients are recommended dietary food, meaning the exclusion of food containing a large concentration of cation.