what can i eat or drink to reduce the potassium level in my blood quickly

Six Steps to Controlling High Potassium

February 25, 2016, four:33pm EST

Anybody needs potassium. It is an important nutrient that helps keep your centre healthy and your muscles working right. But did you know that too much potassium can be unsafe, particularly if you have kidney disease? Information technology can cause a condition chosen "hyperkalemia." The good news? There are steps you lot can take to help keep your potassium levels within normal range. If you think you lot are at risk for hyperkalemia, speak with your physician on means to lower your potassium levels. Additionally, below are some things yous need to know.

Who is at risk?

Although your body needs potassium, having too much in your blood tin exist harmful. It can lead to serious heart problems. Having too much potassium in your body is called "hyperkalemia." You may be at risk for hyperkalemia if you:

• Have kidney affliction. It is the job of your kidneys to continue the right amount of potassium in your body. If at that place is besides much, good for you kidneys will filter out the extra potassium, and remove information technology from your trunk through urine. However, when kidneys do not piece of work well, they may not exist able to remove plenty potassium. This means that potassium can build upwards in your blood to harmful levels.
• Eat a diet high in potassium. Eating as well much food that is high in potassium tin besides cause hyperkalemia, especially in people with advanced kidney affliction. Foods such equally melons, orange juice, and bananas are loftier in potassium.
• Take certain drugs that prevent the kidneys from losing plenty potassium. Some drugs can go on your kidneys from removing enough potassium. This tin can cause your potassium levels to ascent. Discuss all medicines that you lot have with your doctor. Do not stop taking any medicine on your own.
• Taking extra potassium, such as a common salt substitute or sure supplements.
• Have a disorder chosen "Addison's illness," which can occur if your body does not make enough of certain hormones. Hormones are chemicals produced past unlike glands and organs, including the kidneys, to trigger certain responses in your body.
• Take poorly controlled diabetes.
• Experience a serious injury or severe burn.

How do I know if I have loftier potassium?

A simple blood test tin observe the level of potassium in your blood. If you are at run a risk, exist sure yous enquire your healthcare provider nearly a blood test for potassium.

Many people with high potassium accept few, if whatsoever, symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they are usually balmy and non-specific. Yous may feel some musculus weakness, numbness, tingling, nausea, or other unusual feelings. Loftier potassium usually develops slowly over many weeks or months, and is most often mild. It tin recur. For most people, the level of potassium in your blood should exist betwixt 3.5 and v.0, depending on the laboratory that is used.

If high potassium happens suddenly and you lot have very high levels, yous may feel heart palpitations, shortness of jiff, chest hurting, nausea, or vomiting. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care. If you have these symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

There are options

That'south the good news! If yous have high potassium – or are at gamble for getting it – speak to your doctor about the various options you take to manage your potassium levels. It's important you tell your dr. about all the medicines you are taking including over-the-counter drugs, herbals and supplements. To help keep your potassium levels inside normal range, your doctor may recommend the following:

• Following a low-potassium nutrition, if needed. Eating besides much food that is high in potassium can cause bug in some people, especially in people with kidney illness. Enquire your healthcare provider or dietitian how much potassium is right for you. Eating likewise much tin can be harmful, but having as well piffling can crusade bug, as well. Some people may need a piffling more than; others may need less.
• Try fugitive certain common salt substitutes. Sure salt substitutes are high in potassium. Nigh people with kidney disease should non use them.
• Avoiding herbal remedies or supplements. They may have ingredients that tin raise potassium levels. In full general, people with kidney disease should not take herbal supplements. If you accept whatever questions nearly them, ask your healthcare provider.
• Taking water pills or potassium binders, as directed past your healthcare provider. Some people may as well need medicine to aid remove extra potassium from the body and keep it from coming back. This may include:
  • Water pills (diuretics) help rid your body of extra potassium. They work past making your kidney create more urine. Potassium is normally removed through urine.
  • Potassium binders often come in the form of a pulverisation. They are mixed with a pocket-sized amount of water and taken with food. When swallowed, they "bind" to the actress potassium in the bowels and remove it. You must follow the instructions carefully when taking potassium binders. For example, potassium binders may interfere with how other drugs work if you lot take them at the same time. Potassium binders are not for utilize in children.
• Following your treatment plan carefully if y'all have diabetes, kidney disease, middle illness, or any other serious condition. Following your treatment plan will help you lot proceed your potassium levels in the good for you range.

To acquire more about hyperkalemia, download our brochure "Your Kidneys and Hyperkalemia: Are You At Risk?"

This article has been sponsored and developed in collaboration with Relypsa, Inc.

dunnknowerfe.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.kidney.org/content/six-steps-control-high-potassium

Share this post