How to remove potassium from the body. Causes and symptoms of high potassium in the blood

Potassium is one of the main electrolytes in the human body. It regulates the operation of buffer systems that prevent a variety of negative consequences from changes in the internal environment. Together with magnesium, it controls the amount of water in the cells.

daily requirement

Typically, an adult needs one to two grams of the potassium mineral per day. For a young and growing organism, this component is required in an amount of at least thirty milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Most often in winter, the level of potassium in the blood is elevated. There can be many reasons for this, but it should be noted that this mineral does not accumulate in the body, so most often this problem occurs due to improper construction of the daily diet.

The role of potassium

Copes with the regulation of acid-base balance in the blood and intercellular fluid, osmotic pressure and water-salt balance.
Helps transmit nerve impulses.
Activates certain enzymes of protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
Provides correct and accurate heart rate.
Synthesizes protein, and then converts it into glucose glycogen.
Helps normal kidney function.
Improves intestinal motility.
Maintains optimal pressure.

Given all this, you need to figure out what are the hidden causes of increased potassium in the blood and what this condition is fraught with for the human body.

The reasons

There are main factors in which the amount of this component in the body increases. They are listed below:

the use of a diet with a high concentration of the mineral;
labor activity in women;
a change in the water composition of the body due to vomiting, increased sweating, constant urination and diarrhea;
extensive burn foci are also causes of increased potassium in the blood;
pulmonary tuberculosis;
alcoholism, its advanced stage;
high glucose level;
ethyl alcohol poisoning;
diabetes of the first two types;
trauma;
tumor breakdown;
neuroses;
acidosis;
hormonal disorders.

Manifestation

Symptoms of increased potassium in the blood depend on its content, the higher it is, the stronger the signs of the pathological condition, namely:

Muscle weakness, which is accompanied by depolarization of cells, as well as a decrease in their excitability.
Change in the rhythm of contractions of the heart.
Too high levels of the mineral in the blood can cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
Heart failure. This is the most dangerous manifestation of hyperkalemia, as it ends in death. Therefore, it is very important to correctly and timely recognize the causes of increased potassium in the blood and eliminate them in time.
The cardiotoxic effect of the component can be observed on the ECG (electrocardiography).

potassium in children

If the amount of the element in the body is normal, then it helps to restore cardiac activity, as well as remove puffiness, helps to regulate water balance, perfectly concentrates attention and stimulates memory. If its amount is more than normal, this important mineral becomes an enemy.

The main reasons for the increase in potassium in the blood of a child are as follows:

Regular use of products in which this component predominates.
Dehydration of the body due to extensive solar and thermal burns. Active loss of fluid at this moment leads to an increase in the mineral in the plasma and a kind of malfunction in the main organs.
Renal or liver failure in the acute phase.
Violation in the redistribution of potassium ions, as well as its excessive release from cells. Such symptoms can occur under the influence of a decrease in insulin or due to the decay of tumor cells.
Taking certain medications or overdosing on potassium-containing medications.

Other causes can be found much less frequently, for example, prolonged overstrain or stress, because of this, various changes occur, and potassium in the blood also increases. The reasons for this phenomenon should be determined only by a doctor, and parents are obliged to consult a specialist in time so as not to harm their child.

Features of nutrition with high potassium

In order to balance the desired content of the element, you need to eat right. If there is a problem, doctors advise to reduce the consumption of meat and eggs. Their lack can be filled with plant products and garden greens.

berries, especially cranberries, apples, mangoes and grapefruits;
peaches, watermelons and ripe pears;
carrots, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, young peas, eggplant, cauliflower and white cabbage;
salads with celery;
lettuce (can be added to different dishes);
pasta products, bread, plain white rice (all in moderation).

Whatever the reasons for the high potassium content in the blood, it is necessary to abandon the following products:

whole milk and products made from it;
bananas, potatoes, raisins, melons and avocados.

It is required to reduce the consumption of oranges, nectarines, spinach, hot peppers, tomatoes and juice from them.

It should be noted that after heat treatment, the potassium content in mushrooms, broccoli and Brussels sprouts increases.

All dietary restrictions must be maintained until the state is completely normalized. Be sure to consult your doctor about the duration of the diet. After everything in the body returns to normal, you can return to your usual diet.

Diagnostics

All chronic anomalies require adequate and timely treatment. Often, pathology is caused by abnormalities in the functioning of the kidneys, and violations require the supervision of specialists and drug therapy. One of the reasons for the increase in potassium in the blood is a malfunction of the heart, therefore, an ECG is performed to monitor the functioning of the organ.

Signs of deviation can be seen at a mineral concentration of 5.5 mmol / l, at lower parameters there may be no symptoms at all. If a person has convulsions, headaches, malaise, lack of appetite, problems with urination and nausea, a diagnostic examination is required.

In newborns, hyperkalemia is observed at 7.5 mmol / l due to the physiological signs of their body. All excesses in such babies are excreted very slowly due to the fact that the kidneys are not fully formed, and the whole situation stabilizes only after ten years.

In order to fix the presence of a problem, the following research methods are used:

urinalysis, which allows you to evaluate the concentration of potassium excretion at the time of urination
blood sampling, in it it should not exceed 5 mmol / l .;
ECG, when pathology is detected, the amplitude of the “T” wave increases significantly.

Treatment

The causes of an increase in potassium in the blood can be dangerous diseases that require specific treatment. At the same time, the patient is prescribed mineralocorticoid therapy and the use of a potassium-poor diet.

The main procedures that help regulate the operation of all systems include the following activities:

If the patient has used drugs containing this element, then they are immediately canceled.
To protect the heart muscle, 10% calcium gluconate is administered at a dose of 10 ml. This method solves many causes of increased potassium in the blood. What does this mean for the patient, any doctor can tell, since the improvement in the condition should appear within 5 minutes, and this is very fast, and last up to an hour. The doctor sees such changes on the ECG diagram. If nothing happened, then the procedure is repeated.
Insulin is used along with glucose to direct potassium ions into cells, thereby lowering its plasma levels.
You can also inject only glucose, which stimulates the production of endogenous insulin and will help lower the mineral. However, this process is quite lengthy, so it is not suitable for a quick solution to the problem.
To move potassium often used - adrenostimulants and sodium bicarbonate. The last component from the list is undesirable to use in chronic renal failure, as there is low efficiency and a serious threat of overloading the body with sodium.
Thiazide and loop diuretics, as well as cation exchange resins, will perfectly help to remove potassium.
One of the most effective methods for rapidly lowering severe hyperkalemia is hemodialysis. This option is used when all methods have shown inefficiency and for patients with acute and chronic renal failure.

Prevention

In order not to have to use drug therapy, various procedures and interventions in the body, it is recommended to regularly carry out preventive measures. The disease is less likely to occur if the correct diet is developed. Such a diet should contain foods that include a low amount of the mineral.

It is recommended to consume blueberries, asparagus, pineapples, carrots, grapes, blackberries, cranberries, lemons, celery, rice, pasta, milk, beets, cottage cheese, raisins, pumpkin seeds, chocolate, almonds and many other healthy ingredients. Proper nutrition is very important for a child, since such deviations can affect his physical and mental development.

Most potassium is found in the cells that make up any organism. A small amount of it is in. In the intercellular space, it is responsible for the passage of nerve impulses, monitors the contraction of muscles, including the heart muscle, and maintains the level of blood pressure. Intracellular potassium regulates acid-base and water balance, participates in the work of brain nerve cells, and interacts with enzymes. If you do not restore the balance of this element after taking diuretics, its deficiency can bring the body to neurosis, cause serious problems, and even cause a stroke.

The natural loss of potassium in the body occurs when stomach acid is released during the digestion of food. Part of the potassium is lost during intense sweating in the heat or during physical exertion. Part is excreted through the kidneys. The greatest amount of the element can be washed out with the start of taking certain diuretic drugs. There are drugs that practically do not affect the excretion of potassium, for example, tripas, and there are those that have a significant effect on its balance in the body.

The diuretic effect of diuretics from the thiazide group (hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide) is based on the removal of sodium from the body, followed by sodium, water is excreted. But in addition to sodium, these diuretics also remove potassium. Blood pressure mediators usually give a diuretic effect at the same time, but they have a potassium-saving mechanism, so it is not recommended to take potassium preparations simultaneously with them in order to avoid an overdose of this element. Another nuance is associated with the presence of magnesium in the body. Magnesium deficiency does not allow the absorption of potassium and interferes with the restoration of the balance of this element in the body.

Monitor the level of magnesium, try to replenish it if necessary, then taking potassium-containing drugs will give the desired effect.

How to replenish the loss of potassium

If it is confirmed that the content potassium, you need to adjust your diet by increasing the intake of foods rich in this trace element. These are, first of all, lettuce, bananas, potatoes, oranges, grapefruits, lemons. A lot of potassium also in sunflower seeds, spicy greens (dill, parsley, mint).

In consultation with your doctor, take medications that increase the level potassium. At the same time, it is necessary to carefully monitor the state of health, and, if necessary, a control biochemical blood test, since the contents potassium also can lead to serious illness.

It is very important to establish the cause of the deficiency potassium in . The point is that this flaw can be caused by both overexertion, disordered daily routine, malnutrition, fatigue, physical and psychological, and more serious reasons. For example, this trace element may indicate various diseases of the liver and kidneys, impaired function of the endocrine glands, chronic lack of glucose in the body (hypoglycemia), dropsy and many other diseases. If in the first case it is enough to adjust the diet and lead a healthy, measured lifestyle, avoiding overwork, stress, then in the second case it is impossible to do

The normal functioning of the human body is ensured by the sufficient content of all the components necessary for life. Deviations from the norm of any of them threatens with serious violations of the organs, and in some cases even leads to death.

One of these elements is potassium - one of the two main components of water-electrolyte metabolism. Moreover, if the decrease in this element in the body is not considered a life-threatening pathology, then the state when potassium in the blood is elevated is often defined as critical and requires immediate medical attention.

The importance of potassium for the body

The chemical element potassium (K), contained in the human body, is predominantly an intracellular component - its percentage in cells is 89%, while outside them it is only 11%. While sodium (N), an element that participates equally with K in electrolytic metabolism, is mostly outside the cells, which allows you to create electrical flows on both sides of the cell membranes.

In addition to this important function, potassium maintains the water-salt balance of the body and the acid-base balance of the blood. Thanks to it, osmotic pressure and control of the production of a certain number of enzymes are carried out, which makes K an indispensable element for protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Potassium plays a major role in protein synthesis and is involved in the conversion of sugars into glycogen.

Without this element, the normal activity of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), and, in particular, the intestines, urinary (kidneys) and cardiovascular system, would be impossible. Potassium is directly involved in the functioning of the nervous and muscle tissue, facilitating the transmission of neuronal impulses to muscle fibers.

The principle of operation of the potassium-sodium pump

Why does the microelement grow?

The main reasons for the increase in K in the blood (hyperkalemia) can be divided into two groups - the first includes factors that lead to the breakdown of cells, followed by the release of the element beyond the membranes. And to the second - diseases of the urinary system, which reduce the ability of the kidneys to remove potassium from the body.

In addition, a slight excess of the norm can be observed during physical exertion or with an excess of foods containing potassium in the diet. Such causes are not pathological only provided that the concentration of K is not too high.

Hyperkalemia in cell breakdown

Pathological conditions in which there is an increase in potassium in the blood serum include the following:

oxygen starvation of cellular structures;
burn disease, decay of neoplasms;
surgical interventions;
prolonged fasting or a strict diet;
increased breakdown of glycogen or proteins;
lack of insulin with high sugar;
metabolic acidosis (accumulation of acids);
severe injuries accompanied by tissue compression;
necrotic formations caused by injuries or infections;
anaphylactic shock (increases the permeability of cell membranes).

Also, the release of potassium occurs due to hemolysis (intracellular and intravascular). Normally, this is a continuous process, as red blood cells go through their life cycle and are destroyed, as a result of which the element enters the bloodstream without changing the usual level of concentration. But in pathological processes of an autoimmune, infectious, inflammatory or toxic nature, red cell hemolysis proceeds much faster, which significantly increases the potassium content. Such conditions require urgent additional examination and therapy.

Hyperkalemia in pathologies of the urinary system

An increased content of potassium in the blood in many cases means a violation of the functional ability of the organs of the urinary system, and specifically the kidneys. Against the background of such deviations, acute and then chronic renal failure (ARF and CRF) often develops. Such consequences are a serious threat to the life and health of patients.

So, diseases of the urinary system, in which there is increased potassium in the blood, include:

nephritis (inflammatory process in the kidneys) - lupus or drug-induced;
diabetic nephropathy (damage to the vessels of the kidneys) in patients with diabetes mellitus;
reduced excretory function with a decrease in the excretion of potassium ions;
dehydration against the background of excessive urine output - polyuria;
decrease in diuresis - oliguria and its complete absence - anuria.

Often there is a high level of potassium in the results of analyzes of patients undergoing treatment:

potassium-containing drugs. Their excessive administration leads to iatrogenic hyperkalemia, which often develops in patients with chronic renal failure.
Indomethaciomas, Captopril, muscle relaxants and potassium-sparing diuretics.
glycosides. In some cases, severe intoxication may develop, reducing the activity of K, N and ATP.
Hemotransfusion drugs. Transfusion of obsolete blood threatens with potassium poisoning.

Impaired production of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex leads to hyperkalemia

In addition, the level of K in plasma will increase with some types of anemia (decrease in the number of red blood cells), hormonal changes in the activity of the adrenal cortex, such as Addison's disease. It is also able to increase potassium familial periodic paralysis - a rather rare genetically determined disease. With it, an increase in K is noted exclusively during periods of attacks, although this is not necessary. The rest of the time, this indicator may be within the normal range or even lowered.

Important! Signs of elevated potassium levels are muscle weakness and paralysis, which can occur during intense physical exertion or other circumstances leading to a violation of water and electrolyte balance.

It should be noted that the causes in women and men leading to an increase in K may differ from factors specific to the child. Such changes in the level of potassium are often due to the uneven growth of the child's body and have the following normal indicators:

infants 1 week of life - 3.7-5.9 mmol / l;
infants and children 3 years old - 4.1-5.3 mmol / l;
children from 3 to 14 years old - 3.4-4.7 mmol / l.

Whereas for adolescents and adults, 3.5–5.1 mmol / l is considered normal values. At the same time, one should not forget about the impact on this indicator of concomitant and chronic diseases, which can significantly aggravate the patient's condition.

The main manifestations of hyperkalemia

Symptoms of excess K in the body directly depend on the amount of its content - that is, the higher it is, the more pronounced the signs of the patient's pathological condition. The main manifestations of hyperkalemia are:

weakness in the muscles, the cause of which is the depolarization of cells and the deterioration of their excitability;
fatigue, apathy, lethargy, loss of appetite, drowsiness, lethargy, numbness of the extremities;
violation of cardiac activity, expressed in an increase in the rhythm of myocardial contractions;
too high a level of K can lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles;
impaired consciousness, sudden jumps in blood pressure (blood pressure), tachycardia, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath.

The cardiotoxic effect of K is clearly visible on the electrocardiogram (ECG). During the recording, an increase in the PQ interval and an expansion of the QRS are immediately determined, the P wave is not fixed, and AV conduction slows down. The QRS complex, due to its width, merges with the T-wave, from which the curve begins to resemble a sinusoid.

Such changes are associated with asystole and ventricular fibrillation. At the same time, it should be noted that even with K values above the norm and below, it is not possible to trace a clear correlation with deviations on the electrocardiogram. And this means that the ECG does not make it possible to fully assess the degree of cardiotoxic effect of potassium.

Changes in the ECG with an increase in plasma potassium

Reminder to parents! The first symptoms of hyperkalemia in a child are moodiness, irritability, tearfulness, nausea and loss of appetite, the smell of acetone from the mouth and a decrease in attention.

In the course of medical practice, characteristic symptom complexes are distinguished for intervals corresponding to certain values. So, when the concentration of K exceeds 7 mmol / l, the patient's condition requires urgent hospitalization, as it is often detected in acute emergency statuses of the patient.

Initially, the manifestations do not have a pronounced picture - it can be weakness, drowsiness, fatigue. Elderly patients take these symptoms for an increase in blood pressure and are in no hurry to seek qualified help, which is why such a conclusion is dangerous. At the next stage, a person is practically unable to move independently, numbness of the arms and legs is felt. He is inhibited, disoriented, and there is a decrease in the reaction to pain from the outside (prick, pinching).

There is a depression of mental activity. At values of 8 mmol / l, consciousness is disturbed, cardiac activity changes - tachycardia develops and sharp fluctuations in blood pressure are noted. The heart rate can rise to 250 beats, with asystole, fibrillation, which can cause coma or death. A plasma potassium level of 10 mmol/l is rated as critical for the human body. In 85% of cases with such values, death occurs from cardiac arrest.

Diagnostic methods

Before prescribing treatment to a patient with symptoms of hyperkalemia, a comprehensive examination is carried out to find out why this coefficient has increased. Even if, for example, in a biochemical blood test it was found that the indicator is too high, all the necessary diagnostic methods will still be carried out. The same applies to an ECG recording with signs of hyperkalemia.

The first step is to re-donate blood, as sometimes the results can be false. This occurs when the biomaterial sampling technique is incorrect (prolonged application of a tourniquet or untimely examination of a blood sample). Then the concentration of K in the urine is determined. If there are signs of diseases of the urinary system, then the values \u200b\u200bcan reach and even exceed 30 mmol / l.

An ECG is performed or another film is taken again to confirm suspicions of changes in heart rhythm. With a significant excess of the norm K - more than 7 mmol / l, an express test is performed, which allows you to see a more complete picture of the patient's condition. It measures the amount of cations in the serum, including ionized calcium.

Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a blood test for calcitonin, a thyroid hormone that controls calcium metabolism. This is sometimes necessary for making a primary diagnosis and helps to track changes in electrolytic and water-salt metabolism. Only passing all the necessary examinations will ensure an accurate diagnosis and the development of effective therapeutic tactics.

Treatment

The pathology, which is indicated by an increase in K in plasma, can only be detected by a specialist. If the concentration of this element significantly exceeds the norm, then the patient is immediately hospitalized in a hospital. With pronounced symptoms of hyperkalemia, with a parallel violation of kidney function, the doctor may prescribe peritoneal dialysis (through the peritoneum) or hemodialysis.

If the values are too high and there is no time to purify the blood, a phlebotomy (bleeding) is performed to reduce the volume of circulating blood. In order to reduce the rate of metabolic reactions, the introduction of anabolic drugs is additionally carried out. With non-critical indicators (up to 6 mmol / l), while maintaining the normal functioning of the liver and kidneys, therapy is prescribed aimed at increasing diuresis.

In order to return potassium back to the cells and thereby lower its level in plasma, injections of insulin with glucose are carried out. In parallel, droppers with calcium chloride are placed, which allows you to increase blood volume. Since with hyperkalemia there is a violation of the water-salt balance, it is necessary to adjust the diet and drink so that salt enters the body to a minimum. To do this, you should exclude foods high in potassium from the diet.

In addition, with a small degree of hyperkalemia, you can use folk remedies to reduce the concentration of the element. These include drinking green tea and chamomile decoction, which increases diuresis and improves potassium excretion from the body. Even with low hyperkalemia, which allows treatment at home, monitoring of potassium levels is mandatory. Otherwise, there is a danger of its growth, which can lead to the development of complications.

The lack or excess of certain vitamins or minerals in the human body can cause the development of various diseases. For example, the daily rate of potassium in the blood of an adult is from 3.5 to 5.5 mmol / l. If this indicator is too high, this indicates the development of hyperkalemia in a person. Therefore, today we will analyze the questions about why potassium is elevated in the blood and what to do about it.

High potassium in the blood: causes

After a biochemical blood test, many people are told by doctors that they have increased potassium in the blood. The causes of this ailment, as a rule, cannot lie in the increased consumption of foods with potassium through the digestive tract. Since with the proper functioning of the kidneys, this trace element is quickly excreted from the body.

Therefore, if you have increased potassium in the blood, the main reasons lie in the breakdown of proteins, during which potassium is released from the cells, as well as in a decrease in the excretion of potassium by the kidneys in various types of renal pathology.

Another reason for the increased content of potassium in the blood is the administration of potassium salts by the intravenous method uncontrolled by doctors, self-administration of drugs with potassium. Also, often potassium in the blood is more than normal in people who are on a diet high in this trace element.

So, if the potassium in the blood of a child or an adult is elevated, the reasons for the development of this disease may be as follows:

Renal, adrenal insufficiency and other kidney diseases;
Pronounced catabolic processes (intracellular and intravascular hemolysis, protein breakdown, tissue reproduction);
Chronic uremia;
Acute dehydration;
Various injuries, severe burns, frostbite, surgical operations;
Taking potassium-sparing drugs ("Triamteren", "Spironolocton");
Stress, depression, overexertion;
Oxygen starvation of tissues;
Hormonal disorders;
Anuria, oliguria, acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, low plasma insulin and other diseases during which potassium is released from the cells and its content in the intracellular fluid increases;
diabetic coma.

As you can see, if potassium is elevated, there can be only two types of reasons: the slow removal of this microelement from the body due to impaired kidney function and an increase in the transition of potassium from the intracellular space to the extracellular space.

Potassium in the blood is increased: symptoms

The beneficial properties of potassium mainly have a positive effect on the work of the heart and muscle tissue. Therefore, with the development of hyperkalemia, the main symptoms, of course, are associated with a deterioration in the functioning of these particular organs.

An increase in the level of potassium in the blood in children and adults is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Development of arrhythmia. This symptom indicates that the potassium in the blood is above normal, as impulse generation is disrupted;
Muscle weakness, impaired sensitivity and motor function;
The appearance of premature heartbeats;
Depression of the respiratory center. As a result - a violation of the frequency of respiratory movements, the development of hypercapnia;
Violation of blood pressure.

If you have elevated potassium in your blood test, this will also affect the nervous system. A person whose blood potassium is elevated and more than normal often feels the appearance of "goosebumps" on the body, becomes more restless.

It is especially important to monitor whether the potassium in the blood of a child is elevated. Since increased potassium in the blood in children can indicate the development of diabetes, kidney damage. Increased tearfulness, excitability, the smell of acetone from orta are the main symptoms that potassium in the blood is more than normal in children.

Note that increased potassium in the blood of a child or an adult by several times can cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles and impaired conduction along the nerve fibers of the heart. This can cause cardiac arrest.

If you do not have the above symptoms, but the analysis shows a high content of potassium in the blood, then you should take the test again, and also seek qualified help from a doctor. Sometimes clamping blood vessels with your hand or storing blood for a long time in the laboratory can erroneously show elevated potassium in a blood test.

Treatment of hyperkalemia

If you have elevated potassium in your blood, treatment should begin immediately and only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. First you need to conduct an accurate and complete diagnosis. To do this, you need to take a blood and urine test for potassium, determine the content of aldosterone and renin in the blood serum. It is also important to do an EKG. Since if potassium in the blood is elevated, the electrocardiogram changes significantly. The P-R and QRS intervals become longer and a pointed T wave appears.

Treatment of hyperkalemia is carried out by several methods:

Cancellation or lowering the dosage of drugs, supplements, vitamin complexes containing potassium;
The introduction of intravenous drugs that reduce the amount of potassium in the body. These can be preparations with calcium, a special resin. It is not absorbed in the digestive system, absorbing potassium, it removes it through the stomach;
In some cases, injections of glucose, insulin are prescribed to help move potassium into the cells;
Bloodletting. Most often prescribed for chronic uremia;
Hemodialysis is used in renal failure, as the kidneys do not cope with their main function. Hemodialysis - a method of treating high levels of potassium in the blood, which is an artificial removal of waste products from the blood;
Reception of diuretics, diuretics. This is a fairly effective method of treating an increase in potassium in the blood. The drugs are taken orally or intravenously.

If you have high blood potassium, diet is another treatment for hyperkalemia. It is important to limit the intake of potassium salts with food through the digestive tract. Therefore, you should change your diet, exclude legumes, dark chocolate, spinach, cabbage, marine fish fillets, banana, kiwi, melon, grapes and citrus fruits from it. The maximum daily dose of potassium for hyperkalemia should be no more than 2 grams.

Very varied. 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. After all, only in this state can cellular reactions proceed correctly. A special role among the ions belongs to potassium. The 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 elevated potassium in the blood. The reasons for this condition require detailed study.

The role of potassium in the body

This trace element contained in the 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 mental clarity, helps the body get rid of toxins and toxins, improves brain oxygenation. The effect of potassium is similar to that of immunomodulators. The trace element effectively helps fight allergies and helps to lower pressure.

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

Adjustment of acid-base balance in the blood, water balance of cellular and intercellular fluid, water-salt balance,
Transmission of nerve impulses.
Activation of certain enzymes, carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
Ensuring a normal heart rhythm.
Protein synthesis, conversion of glucose into glycogen.
Ensuring the normalization of the kidneys (excretory function).
Improvement of bowel activity.
Normal pressure support.

Given all this, it is very important to understand what are hidden, if elevated potassium in the blood is diagnosed, the causes of this phenomenon. But before understanding the sources of pathology, one more important issue should be touched upon.

Why is the level dangerous?

intake of potassium with food;
its distribution in the body;
micronutrient output.

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 figure out why potassium in the blood is increased or decreased, and what is its norm.

Initially, consider what trace element content is considered acceptable.

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

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

Paralysis of muscle tissues. The condition may be temporary. It is accompanied by general weakness.
Heart rhythm disorders. The patient may develop ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia and other equally unpleasant conditions. Some of them can even lead to death.
Violation of the respiratory function, up to a stop.

False reasons for the increase

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

The analysis may show an increased content of potassium if:

the shoulder was compressed with a tourniquet for a long time (more than 2-3 minutes);
biological material was stored incorrectly;
blood sampling occurred after the introduction of potassium preparations into the body;
during the analysis, a 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 take a second analysis.

Main reasons

Now let's move on 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 the result of internal pathologies.

Often sources of hyperkalemia are:

Excessive abuse of foods containing a large amount 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 the excretory function.
Significant excretion of potassium from the cells. Such a redistribution of ions can be dictated by various disorders in the body. Most often, such symptoms manifest themselves with a low content of insulin, an increased concentration of glucose, acidosis (acidification of the interstitial fluid). Failure of metabolic processes, in which potassium increases in the interstitial fluid, can be observed during the decay of tumor formations, extensive burns, massive damage to muscle fibers.
Low urinary excretion. The main reason for this condition is the pathology of the kidneys, in which an 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, systemic ailments (such as lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis).

Medical causes

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 drugs often lead to quite unpleasant symptoms.

Hyperkalemia can be caused by:

NSAIDs.
Potassium-sparing diuretics: Triamteren, Spironoloctone.
Substances with a high concentration of cations. These are a variety of herbal preparations from nettle, milkweed, dandelions.
Medicines that can interfere with the transport of potassium across the cell membrane. Such drugs are beta-blockers, the drug "Mannitol".
Drugs that reduce the secretion of aldosterone. These are antifungal medicines, ACE blockers, the drug "Heparin".

Characteristic symptoms

Only a doctor can correctly determine the causes of high potassium. But the patient himself must pay attention to the clues that the body signals about the problem.

With hyperkalemia, the patient has the following symptoms:

hyperactivity, irritability, excitability, anxiety, profuse sweating;
degenerative musculo-nervous disorders, muscle weakness is manifested;
arrhythmia occurs;
there is paralysis of muscle tissue;
the work of the intestine is disturbed, the patient is tormented by colic;
there is a disorder of urination (we are talking about an increase in the process).

Diagnostic methods

It is possible to detect an increased content of potassium in the blood only with the help of laboratory tests.

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

Donating blood. The norm is the content of 3.5-5.5 mmol / l in the presence of pathology, the content of the cation is increased.
Analysis of urine. Allows you to diagnose the concentration of potassium excreted from the body.
ECG. Pathology is indicated by an 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. The causes and treatment of the disease can only be adequately interpreted by a specialist.

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

The therapy includes the following activities:

Intravenous administration of potassium antagonists. Strictly controlling cardiac activity, the doctor prescribes Calcium Gluconate.
Redistribution of the cation into cells. As a result, its concentration in the blood decreases. For such purposes, drugs are administered intravenously: "Insulin" and "Glucose".
Ensuring the normal excretion of potassium from the body with urine. Thiazide diuretics such as the drug Furosemide are recommended.
Dialysis. With the help of a special apparatus, they purify the blood. A similar event is prescribed for severe illness.
Laxatives, ion exchange resins. These funds are aimed at retaining the cation in the intestine and removing it with feces.
Beta mimetics. The drug "Salbutamol" stimulates the movement of potassium cells inside.

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