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Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia and hypokalemia refer to high and low potassium levels in the blood, respectively. Hyperkalemia is caused by kidney failure or diseases, medications, and supplements and can cause heart palpitations, weakness, and arrhythmias. Treatment depends on severity but may include diuretics, medication changes, or dialysis. Hypokalemia can be caused by alcohol, medications, kidney disease, and excessive laxative use and can cause constipation, weakness, and arrhythmias. Treatment aims to reduce potassium losses and replenish stores through diet, medication changes, or supplementation. Both conditions require blood tests and EKGs to diagnose and monitor.

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89 views9 pages

Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia and hypokalemia refer to high and low potassium levels in the blood, respectively. Hyperkalemia is caused by kidney failure or diseases, medications, and supplements and can cause heart palpitations, weakness, and arrhythmias. Treatment depends on severity but may include diuretics, medication changes, or dialysis. Hypokalemia can be caused by alcohol, medications, kidney disease, and excessive laxative use and can cause constipation, weakness, and arrhythmias. Treatment aims to reduce potassium losses and replenish stores through diet, medication changes, or supplementation. Both conditions require blood tests and EKGs to diagnose and monitor.

Uploaded by

Fabdul Rauf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DM13/2021/B GROUP-THREE

MEDICINE AND MEDICAL NURSING

HYPERKALEMIA
Hyperkalemia is a higher than normal potassium
level in the blood. For most people, their potassium
level should be between 3.5 and 5.0 millimoles per
liter (mmol/L). Hyperkalemia is a potassium level of
greater than 5.5.
Mild cases may not produce symptoms and may be
easy to treat. But severe cases left untreated can
lead to fatal arrhythmias.

CAUSES OF HYPERKALEMIA
The most common cause of genuinely high
potassium (hyperkalemia) is related to your kidneys,
such as:

 Acute kidney failure

 Chronic kidney disease


Other causes of hyperkalemia include:

 Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)

 Angiotensin II receptor blockers

 Dehydration

 Excessive use of potassium supplements

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERKALEMIA
Hyperkalemia symptoms include:

 Abdominal (belly) pain and diarrhea.


 Chest pain.
 Heart palpitations or arrhythmia(irregular,
fast or fluttering heartbeat).
 Muscle weakness or numbness in limbs.
 Nausea and vomiting.

HOW HYPERKALEMIA IS DIAGNOSED


Because most people don’t have symptoms, you
might not know you have high potassium until you
get a routine blood test. A serum potassium test
measures potassium levels in blood. Your
healthcare provider may also order
an electrocardiogram (EKG). This test shows
changes in heart rhythm caused by hyperkalemia.

COMPLICATIONS OF HYPERKALEMIA
It can cause life-threatening heart rhythm changes
(arrhythmia) that cause a heart attack. Even mild
hyperkalemia can damage your heart over time if
you don’t get treatment.

MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT OF
HYPERKALEMIA
Treatment varies depending on the potassium level.
Options include:
 Diuretics: Also called water pills, these drugs
make you pee more often. Your body gets rid of
potassium mainly in urine.
 Medication management: Many people see
improvement after stopping or changing certain
blood pressure medications or other drugs that
raise potassium levels. Your healthcare provider
can determine what medication changes to
make.
 Dialysis: If potassium levels remain or you
experience kidney failure, you may need dialysis.
This treatment helps your kidneys remove
excess potassium from blood.

HYPOKALEMIA
Low potassium (hypokalemia) refers to a lower than
normal potassium level in your bloodstream.
Potassium helps carry electrical signals to cells in
your body. It is critical to the proper functioning of
nerve and muscles cells, particularly heart muscle
cells.Normally, your blood potassium level is 3.6 to
5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A very low
potassium level (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life-
threatening and requires urgent medical attention.

CAUSES OF HYPOKALEMIA
Causes of potassium loss include:
 Alcohol use (excessive)
 Chronic kidney disease
 Diabetic keto acidosis
 Diuretics (water retention relievers)
 Excessive laxative use
 Folic acid deficiency

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOKALEMIA
Mild cases of low potassium may not cause any
symptoms. But signs may include:
 Constipation.
 Heart palpitations.
 Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
 Muscle weakness and spasms.
 Tingling and numbness.
More severe cases of low potassium may cause
signs and symptoms such as:
 Low blood pressure (hypotension).
 Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
 Excessive urination (polyuria).
 Excessive thirst (polydipsia).

HOW TO DIAGNOSE HYPOKALEMIA


Your healthcare provider will check your potassium
level through a blood test. The normal potassium
level for an adult ranges from 3.5 to 5.2 mEq/L (3.5
to 5.2 mmol/L). Potassium levels between 3 and 3.5
mEq/L (3 to 3.5 mmol/L) are considered mild
hypokalemia. Anything lower than 3 mEq/L (3
mmol/L) is considered severe hypokalemia. 
Your healthcare provider may also order a basic
or comprehensive metabolic panel. This panel is a
group of blood tests that determine your body's
kidney function and electrolyte balance.
If hypokalemia is confirmed, your healthcare
provider will try to determine the cause. If the cause
isn’t clear, they may order a urine test (urinalysis) to
measure the amount of potassium in your urine.
Your healthcare provider may also order
an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An ECG
measures your heart rhythm. Hypokalemia can
cause abnormal heart rhythms. An ECG can pick up
the abnormal heart rhythms.

COMPLICATIONS OF HYPOKALEMIA
Someone with severe hypokalemia can experience:
 decreased brain function
 high blood sugar levels
 muscle paralysis
 difficulty breathing
 and irregular heartbeat

MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT OF
HYPOKALEMIA
Treatment varies depending on the potassium level.
Options include:
 Discontinuation of laxatives.
 Use of potassium-neutral or potassium-sparing
diuretics.
 Treatment of diarrhea or vomiting.
 Administration of oral potassium.

AIMS FOR TREATMENT


The treatment of hypokalemia has four aims:
 reduction of potassium losses,
 replenishment of potassium stores,
 evaluation for potential toxicities and
 determination of the cause, in order to prevent
future episodes.

References
myclevelandclinick.org
www.nbi..nlm.nih.gov
health direct.gov.au
www.mayoclinic.org

NAMES INDEX NUMBERS


Abdul Rauf Fatimata Dm13/2021/064
Astana Dalilatu Dm13/2021/032
Aminatu Fuseini Dm13/2021/024
Elizabeth Nagalo Dm13/2021/057
Naziahtu Issaka Dm13/2021/133
Regina Korkor Dm13/2021/151
Angela Oduro Takyiwaa Dm13/2021/028
Osman Fatima Dm13/2021/138
Lois Animwaa Daso Dm13/2021/107
Braimah Muhaina Dm13/2021/047

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