High potassium symptoms often go unnoticed unless levels are very elevated.
Potassium plays an important role in heart and neuromuscular function.
High potassium, orhyperkalemia, can affect the heart, nerves, and muscles.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
These symptoms warrant an immediate visit with a medical professional or your healthcare provider.
This article discusses high potassium symptoms.
It does not always cause symptoms, though it can become fatal if left untreated.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Normally, there is more potassium inside and more sodium outside of any given cell.
Neurologic Symptoms of High Potassium
High potassium levels alter a neuron’s action potential.
As a result, a nerve cannot generate an impulse.
Common neurologic symptoms of hyperkalemia can include:
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Nerves stimulate muscle fibers to contract.
When the action potential is altered, muscle functioning can be affected.
Skeletal muscles, also called striated muscles, are the muscles that are attached to your bones.
They allow you to move your arms, legs, and other body parts.
A muscle that does not receive nerve impulses can have difficulty contracting or become weak.
This propels food from your esophagus all the way through the colon in a process known asperistalsis.
This can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including:
Cardiovascular Symptoms
High potassium levels can affectheart contractions.
Potassium andsodiumregulate electrical signals in the hearts muscle, called themyocardium.
When the potassium level is too high, it can interfere with electrical signaling.
The delayed firing of action potentials can cause a slow heart rate.
You are encouraged to be proactive and contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation.
Most of the time, hyperkalemia is found incidentally onblood work.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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American Heart Association.What is hyperkalemia (high potassium)?
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UpToDate.Clinical manifestations of hyperkalemia in adults
