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What is the effect of excess potassium on the body? Is an excess of this element a cause for concern? Should further diagnostics be performed? Is it enough to change your diet to lower the amount of potassium in your body? The question is answered by the drug. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski.
Is too much potassium a cause for concern?
Hello! I am 45 years old, I am a woman. I have recently had preventive examinations and it turned out that I have a lot elevated potassium levels. And the question came to my mind whether excess potassium is it dangerous? I wonder if the excess of this element is something disturbing and can lead to some disease or ailments or if it is not unusual.
I also do not know if due to excess potassium I should see a doctor immediately or maybe just try to limit some ingredients in the diet. And if I had to limit what? Are there any foods that contain particularly a large amount of potassium and which eating could cause elevated potassium levels in my research?
I wonder if it is not that just before the test, I was not eating in large amounts of a particular ingredient that caused the results to be distorted. I would like to add that I do not have any chronic disease, and I did not have excess potassium in my family. Thank you for your response.
Your doctor will explain if excess potassium can be dangerous
Ladies and Gentlemen, at the very beginning, you should write down the exact concentration of potassium. This information is crucial because very much high level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) exceeding 6.5 mmol / l may even be fatal. It is assumed that normal potassium levels is 3.6-5.2 mmol / l. The deficiency and excess of potassium in the body can have serious consequences. Hyperkalemia is classified as mild, moderate and severe.
Mild hyperkalemia generally causes no symptoms. In the case of moderate and severe hyperkalemia Patients most often report weakness, including muscle weakness including paralysis, decreased heart rate and shortness of breath (due to, among other things, weakness of the respiratory muscles). High potassium levels can lead to cardiac arrest and subsequent death. If you have noticed these symptoms, you should urgently see a doctor.
Apart from the symptoms themselves, it is worth mentioning Fr. causes of hyperkalemia. Often excessive amount of potassium results from improper supplementation of this element, especially when the patient suffers from kidney failure. Acute renal failure or adrenal insufficiency may also manifest as increased levels of potassium in the blood. The same is true for cancer patients who break down the cancerous tumor and release potassium from the cells as a result of chemotherapy.
When it comes to foods that contain large amounts of potassium, remember about tomatoes, bananas, beets, spinach and watermelon.
– Lek. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski
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