Table of Contents
What causes potassium levels to be high UK?
Excessive burns. Certain kinds of trauma, like excessive burns, can raise your potassium levels. In these cases, extra potassium leaks from your body cells into your bloodstream. Burns or crush injuries where a large number of muscle cells are injured can cause these effects.
What does it mean if you have high levels of potassium in your blood?
Hyperkalemia occurs when potassium levels in your blood get too high. Potassium is an essential nutrient found in foods. This nutrient helps your nerves and muscles function. But too much potassium in your blood can damage your heart and cause a heart attack.
Is high potassium level serious?
Potassium is a chemical that is critical to the function of nerve and muscle cells, including those in your heart. Your blood potassium level is normally 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Having a blood potassium level higher than 6.0 mmol/L can be dangerous and usually requires immediate treatment.
What symptoms are caused by high potassium levels?
But if your potassium levels are high enough to cause symptoms, you may have:
- tiredness or weakness.
- a feeling of numbness or tingling.
- nausea or vomiting.
- trouble breathing.
- chest pain.
- palpitations or irregular heartbeats.
How is high potassium treated NHS?
Adding a new medicine
- Sodium bicarbonate. This acts by binding with the acid in your blood stream.
- Potassium binders. These work by removing the extra potassium from your body in your faeces (poo).
- Diuretics (water tablets). These make your kidneys produce more urine which can get rid of the potassium in the body.
What can you do if your potassium is high?
Emergency treatment may include:
- Calcium given into your veins (IV) to treat the muscle and heart effects of high potassium levels.
- Glucose and insulin given into your veins (IV) to help lower potassium levels long enough to correct the cause.
- Kidney dialysis if your kidney function is poor.
How do doctors treat high potassium levels?
Emergency treatment may include: Calcium given into your veins (IV) to treat the muscle and heart effects of high potassium levels. Glucose and insulin given into your veins (IV) to help lower potassium levels long enough to correct the cause. Kidney dialysis if your kidney function is poor.
How do I lower my potassium level NHS?
Low potassium (best choice)
- Boiled potato.
- Boiled starchy vegetables.
- Boiled and then roasted or fried potato.
- Boiled and then roasted or fried starchy vegetables.
- Mashed potato (not instant or frozen) 150 g (5 oz) serving of potato (or 3 egg-size potatoes) daily.
How do I bring my potassium level down?
Dietary changes
- root vegetables, such as beets and beet greens, taro, parsnips, and potatoes, yams, and sweet potatoes (unless they’re boiled)
- bananas and plantains.
- spinach.
- avocado.
- prunes and prune juice.
- raisins.
- dates.
- sun-dried or pureed tomatoes, or tomato paste.
How can I reduce my potassium level quickly?
Boiling certain foods can lower the amount of potassium in them. For example, potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, and spinach can be boiled or partially boiled and drained. Then, you can prepare them how you normally would by frying, roasting, or baking them. Boiling food removes some potassium.