Potassium is one of the most common chemical elements in our bodies, mostly existing inside our cells.
Hyperkalemiais the term for high potassium levels in your blood.
A normalpotassiumlevel for adults is considered 3.6 to 5.2 mEq/L.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
When your body is dehydrated, your urine output is decreased.
Any excess of electrolytes is expelled from your body through urine, sweat, and the digestive tract.
When levels increase or decrease, the kidneys begin responding immediately.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Experiencing thirst is a basic example of how our bodies respond to decreased water levels.
High potassium blood levels can disrupt the way certain organ systems function and can become fatal if left untreated.
Hyperkalemia isdiagnosedthrough blood tests that check potassium levels and through cardiac tests that show abnormal cardiac rhythm.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
With pseudohyperkalemia, the serum potassium level is significantly higher than the plasma potassium level.
A Word From Verywell
Hyperkalemia is a potentially dangerous condition, but it can be successfully reversed.
Simon LV, Farrell MW.Hyperkalemia.
In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Nefrologia; 39(3):277-286.
Shrimanker I, Bhattarai S.Electrolytes.
In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541123/
Weaver CM.Potassium and health.
Adv Nutr; 4(3):368S-77S.
Braun EJ.Regulation of renal and lower gastrointestinal function: role in fluid and electrolyte balance.
Comp Biochem Physiol, Part A Mol Integr Physiol; 136(3):499-505.
Udensi UK, Tchounwou PB.Potassium Homeostasis, Oxidative Stress, and Human Disease.Int J Clin Exp Physiol.
2018 Sep 13;379(11):1094].N Engl J Med.
2012;1(4):10.3402/jchimp.v1i4.7372.
2018;10(3):261.
Published 2018 Feb 25. doi:10.3390/nu10030261
Mayo Clinic Staff.High Potassium (Hyperkalemia).
Mount DB.Treatment and Prevention of Hyperkalemia in Adults.
