Article written by Dr Pham Thi Thao – Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine – Share99 Hai Phong International Health Hub
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Bradycardia, weak pulse… are serious symptoms that warn of hyperkalemia, the person if not given a timely emergency can lead to cardiac arrest and rapid death. This is an extremely dangerous disease to take precautions.
1. What is hyperkalemia?
Normal blood potassium levels range from 3.5-5 mmol/L. When potassium outside this limit increases or decreases, it causes a lot of disorders that can cause cardiac arrest leading to death. Hyperkalemia is when potassium > 5 mmol/L. If potassium > 6 mmol/L can cause arrhythmias leading to death.
Hyperkalemia is usually asymptomatous, in some cases it manifests fatigue, weakness, chest drumming or paralysis, paralysis … Therefore, the diagnosis of hyperkalemia based on clinical symptoms is merely insufficient, instead patients are at risk of needing a follow-up test to detect hyperkalemia treatment in a timely manner (electrolycical testing).
2. Causes of hyperkalemia
The kidneys are the main body responsible for the regulate of potassium, the secretions of potassium of the kidneys are dominated mainly by Aldosterone (high potassium levels will increase the secretions of Aldosterone).
Hyperkalemia can be caused by the transfer of potassium from in-cell to out-of-cell, decreased secretion of potassium due to pathology in the kidneys, or hyperkalemia is sometimes just a fake condition.
Some causes of hyperkalemia include:
2.1 Transfer of Potassium from in-cell to out-of-cell
Patients with ceton acidosis in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin is a substance that increases the transfer of potassium from the out-of-cell into the in-cell).
2.2 Due to drug use
Potassium retention weeds, Blood pressure drugs inhibit ACE, inhibit receptors … is the cause of hyperkalemia.
2.3 Causes of hyperkalemia from the kidneys
- Severe or chronic renal failure.
- Type IV renal tubular acidosis makes the kidneys inability to excrete Potassium.
- Aldosterone hormone deficiency (Addison's disease).
2.4 Other causes of hyperkalemia
- Excessive potassium supplementation or hemoma-soluble blood transfusions increase potassium.
- End enderthal causes such as symosis, hematoma, burns or tumor lysis syndrome.
- Due to potassium-rich foods such as bananas, potatoes and chocolate.
- Improper blood sampling (garo too long), or blood samples stored too long before going to the test.
3. What effect does the determination of the cause of hyperkalemia affect the treatment plan?
Determining the causes of hyperkalemia for treatment and prevention is very important, but in cases of severe hyperkalemia, it is placed in the second row, the treatment of emergency potassium increase is put on top with any cause.
Determine the causes of hyperkalemia:
- Exploiting a history of chronic pathology
- Exploiting drug use history (drugs in use, recent drug changes and dosages…)
Long-term treatment and limitation of hyperkalemia rely on the treatment of causes:
Discontinue or reduce the dose of drugs that cause renal failure or cause hyperkalemia, using other drugs instead. Limit foods rich in Potassium…
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SEE MORE:
- In what cases does blood potassium increase?
- Beware of hyperkalemia in patients with renal impairment
- What is the body like if excess – lack of potassium in the blood?
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- Implications of blood potassium test
- Prevention of potassium and blood disorders caused by medication
- Causes of kali blood disorders