Question 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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.

Question 5

what problems could high potassium levels in the blood cause?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac problems: the most feared and morbid complication is a cardiac arrhythmia which could be fatal. This is usually caused by an acute rise in potassium level. The body may adapt to a slow chronic rise and therefore a treatment plan should be dictated by your doctor who would follow the level closely.

Question 6

please suggest what foods help to lower high potassium level?

Accepted Answer

Nephrologist: Potassium balance is tightly regulated by the kidneys, so any potassium disorder implies some derangement in potassium handling. If you have high potassium problems, you must consult nephrologist. 
Please see this website for info on low potassium diet.
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/potassium.cfm.

Question 7

what is combined levels of high potassium and low sodium mean?

Accepted Answer

Nephrologist: Low sodium and high potassium means either there is dehydration as in severe diarrhea or overhydration, excess fluid as in heart failure. This electrolyte abnormality is a complex physiological derangement , which is usually best dealt by a nephrologist.

Question 8

please suggest what foods are safe to eat when trying to avoid high potassium levels?

Accepted Answer

Nephrologist: Potassium balance is tightly regulated by the kidneys, so any potassium disorder implies some derangement in potassium handling. If you have high potassium problems, you must consult nephrologist. 
Please see this website for info on low potassium diet.
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/potassium.cfm.

Question 9

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 10

what will high potassium levels and high liver enzymes cause?

Accepted Answer

Worrisome: The high potassium may be from cell breakdown.  The liver enzymes can be related to liver cells but can also come from muscle sources.
Please see your doctor regarding possible muscle cell breakdown as the cause of the findings you mention above.

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What are common causes of high potassium levels?

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Would dialysis be needed for high potassium levels?

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What does high potassium levels in the blood indicate?

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What problems could high potassium levels in the blood cause?

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Please suggest what foods help to lower high potassium level?

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What is combined levels of high potassium and low sodium mean?

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Please suggest what foods are safe to eat when trying to avoid high potassium levels?

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Can high hba1c cause high potassium levels?

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What will high potassium levels and high liver enzymes cause?

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