Question 1

what are some of the symptoms of high potassium levels?

Accepted Answer

None or death: There are no symptoms from high potassium and, if you have normal kidney function, you can't get a high potassium unless you purposefully overdose on medication. When potassium becomes approximately twice the normal concentration, the heart stops.  No warning. Just stops. (potassium is used in executions).

Question 2

would dialysis be needed for high potassium levels?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If the potassium level is dangerously high then   and the level can't be lowered with oral and/or IV medications then you might need emergency dialysis.

Question 3

can high hba1c cause high potassium levels?

Accepted Answer

Indirectly: If you mean hga1c, that is a test for diabetes.  Diabetes is the number 1 cause of renal failure in the United States.  Since potassium only leaves the body through the urine and stool, if your kidney function worsens with poorly controlled diabetes resulting in high hga1c, your kidneys may not be able to control the potassium level resulting in high potassium.

Question 4

does low or high potassium blood levels cause dizziness?

Accepted Answer

Both can: High potassium and low potassium both can cause dizziness if severe enough to cause low blood pressure by affecting heart rhythm.

Question 5

can drinking lots of orange cause slightly high potassium levels?

Accepted Answer

Orange: Yes, orange juice is rich in potassium.

Question 6

does playing shuttle for 2 hrs cause high potassium levels when one is diabetic?

Accepted Answer

It shouldn't: A diabetic person should be able to do sports for a couple of hours without causing her potassium level to go outside of the normal range. If worried, one can be checked out by a primary care doctor. One can actually get a lab test done before and after exercise, to see if there is any abnormal difference, if worried about causing high potassium levels.

Question 7

good afternoon doctors. is a potassium level of 5.3 hyperkalemia? is it high or dangerous?

Accepted Answer

: Usually levels of 5.5 and above are considered hyperkalemia. What it means to have a 5.3 must be decided in context of all contributing factors in the situation. Having a sample taken with poor technique or sit for a duration before testing can elevate the number.

Question 8

i took aldactone (spironolactone) and it caused me to have high potassium levels? why? is that bad? i wanted to take it for my hirsituism :(

Accepted Answer

Side effect : That is a known side effect but most people with normal kidney function should not developed increased potassium. Best to get a full blood work and take low potassium diet and have your labs checked on a regular basis. Discuss all options with your MD.

Question 9

what are common causes of high potassium levels?

Accepted Answer

Factors: A simplistic way to look at it: 
potassium levels can be high if the dietary intake is high, if the excretion is low (eg. In kidney disease, or in certain states when the kidneys can't excrete potassium well even if the function otherwise is normal like rta), or if potassium shifts from inside the cells to the blood stream.

Question 10

what does high potassium levels in the blood indicate?

Accepted Answer

High potassium: Many conditions can cause high potassium levels in the blood.  Among these are: disorders of the adrenal glands,  hemolysis of red blood cells, breakdown of muscles following trauma.

Other causes are chronic kidney disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, or acidosis of any type, use of ace-inhibitors, or angiotensin blockers and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory  agents.

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High potassium levels after surgery

A member asked:

What are some of the symptoms of high potassium levels?

A member asked:

Would dialysis be needed for high potassium levels?

A member asked:

Can high hba1c cause high potassium levels?

A member asked:

Does low or high potassium blood levels cause dizziness?

A member asked:

Can drinking lots of orange cause slightly high potassium levels?

A member asked:

Does playing shuttle for 2 hrs cause high potassium levels when one is diabetic?

A member asked:

Good afternoon doctors. is a potassium level of 5.3 hyperkalemia? is it high or dangerous?

A member asked:

I took aldactone (spironolactone) and it caused me to have high potassium levels? why? is that bad? i wanted to take it for my hirsituism :(

A member asked:

What are common causes of high potassium levels?

A member asked:

What does high potassium levels in the blood indicate?

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