From the Guidelines
High potassium (hyperkalemia) often presents with symptoms affecting the heart and muscles, including heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling sensations, nausea, and shortness of breath, as noted in a recent study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1. The symptoms of hyperkalemia can be nonspecific, and although electrocardiographic (ECG) findings are recommended for determining hyperkalemia, they can be highly variable and not as sensitive as a laboratory test in predicting hyperkalemia or its associated complications 1. Some key points to consider when evaluating symptoms of high potassium include:
- The severity of hyperkalemia can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, with severe cases posing a higher risk for life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances 1
- People with kidney disease, those taking certain medications (like ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics, or potassium supplements), and patients with Addison's disease are at higher risk for developing high potassium levels and should be particularly vigilant about monitoring for these symptoms 1
- Treatment options for acute hyperkalemia include intravenous calcium gluconate, insulin/glucose, inhaled β-agonists, intravenous sodium bicarbonate, and hemodialysis, with the goal of rapidly reducing the membrane excitatory effects of potassium on cardiac tissue and minimizing the potential for cardiac arrhythmia 1
- Regular blood tests are important for those at risk, as many people with mildly elevated potassium levels may not experience any symptoms at all 1