What is Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia is higher than normal potassium in the blood. Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte which helps in maintaining pH balance in the body, heart rhythm, muscle contraction, nerve impulse, blood pressure and digestion in the human body. It is not produced naturally by the body but absorbed through the food we eat. Too less potassium or too much of it, both have serious ill effects. Kidney Failure is the most common reason for high potassium in the blood as the kidney is unable to filter excess potassium. Serum Potassium is a part of routine blood test of CKD patients. Slightly elevated potassium levels may be controlled by eating food low in potassium. In case potassium is found on still higher side, CKD patient must remain careful and check out for symptoms mentioned below. In case of severity, get in touch with the doctor at the earliest as hospitalization might be absolutely necessary.
Symptoms of Hyperkalemia
Some early signs of high potassium in blood are tiredness, tingling sensation, breathing trouble, chest pain, irregular heart beat, palpitation, slurred speech, uneven pulse rate, etc. If there has been high potassium in earlier blood test report of the patient, any of the above symptoms must be immediately reported to the doctor. In case of palpitation and slurred speech or fainting, patient should be hospitalized right away. Time is very critical in such situation.
Dietary restrictions
Since potassium is ingested through food, kidney patient should intake food low in potassium (check Diet Section). It is important to remember, many food products which boast of low salt (sodium) in food stores are high in potassium (for eg low sodium salt). Also, herbal products are high in potassium. Shiny, slippery fishes like Hilsa are high in potassium. Most food that is ingested has potassium. The key is to eat less potion size of various foods, include variety of vegetables in the diet, saying no to potassium rich food altogether, avoid canned, processed food, etc.
Medication
To lower potassium, doctor might suggest calcium gluconate, diuretics and/ or resins.
CKD patients who are undergoing dialysis, may in consultation with their doctors, get excess potassium filtered through dialysis. The dialysis technicians should be informed properly so that the ratio of potassium filter is set in the dialysis machine correctly.