Hyperkalemia: What You Need To Know About High Potassium

As a long-time hypertensive, I am no stranger to blood tests — but they are usually a boring part of my routine, and not anything to worry about. When I recently went to have my routine blood work done, the outcome was a little more alarming. My physician's assistant contacted me to tell me that my potassium levels were alarmingly high and that I should have another blood test within the fortnight.

Of course, I was a little shocked to hear that my potassium was elevated, especially when the PA told me how important it was to come in again as soon as possible. I knew that high potassium levels could indicate poor kidney function, which runs in my family, so my thoughts immediately wandered to being stuck to a dialysis machine.

What Is Hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia is a medical term that means elevated potassium levels. Potassium is without a doubt an essential mineral; it keeps your heart, kidneys and other body systems running well, and not having enough potassium can lead to serious health problems like hypertension, heart disease, infertility, stroke, arthritis, digestive disorders, and even cancer. Unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking, abusing alcohol and drugs, being excessively physically active and having eating disorders can all lead to a lack of potassium. These health issues are all pretty common. This is why you have probably heard about people taking potassium supplements to bring their levels of the stuff up.

Hyperkalemia, the opposite problem, is much less discussed, but no less dangerous. Normal blood potassium levels are between 3.6 and 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), and you have too much if you're over that. Having potassium levels of 7.0 mmol/L or higher poses a real risk to your health. As such, it deserves to be taken extremely seriously and requires immediate medical treatment. More about that later.

Hyperkalemia: Causes And Symptoms Of High Potassium Levels

You can usually expect to have high potassium levels diagnosed during routine blood testing for a preexisting condition or because you're taking medications and your doctor wants to monitor the state of your blood, rather that because you have been feeling poorly. If you're in this boat, you may not have symptoms associated with high potassium levels at all, or at least not symptoms you can recognize as being caused by hyperkalemia. Your potassium levels may rise over time, causing gradual symptoms you cannot easily pinpoint as well.

If you do have symptoms linked to your high potassium levels, they're likely to include some of the following:

• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Tingling
• Nausea
• A slow heartbeat and a weak pulse