Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a condition of elevated potassium in the blood, disrupting nerve and muscle function. It can lead to serious complications and requires prompt medical intervention.

Hyperkalemia is a condition characterized by a higher-than-normal level of potassium in the blood. Potassium is a crucial electrolyte that helps regulate nerve and muscle function, including the heart. Excess potassium can disrupt these functions, potentially leading to life-threatening complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Hyperkalemia can result from various factors, including kidney disease (impaired potassium excretion), certain medications (e.g., ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics), dietary factors (excessive potassium intake), tissue damage (e.g., burns, trauma), and endocrine disorders. Severe hyperkalemia requires prompt medical intervention, typically involving administration of medications to shift potassium into cells (e.g., insulin, beta-agonists), bind potassium in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., sodium polystyrene sulfonate), or remove potassium from the body (e.g., diuretics, dialysis).