Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia is a condition where the ratio of potassium in the blood is higher than normal. Potassium is an important component of the blood and is responsible for the maintenance of the electrical impulses in the body. It is significant for metabolism and the production of muscle tissue. Hyperkalemia is a condition that causes the level of potassium in the blood to be higher than normal. This results in various symptoms of hyperkalemia. These symptoms include irregular heartbeat and nausea. The heartbeat irregularity is associated with the complications that occur in the electrical signaling of the heart muscles which is a result of hyperkalemia.
The kidneys are the automatic filters of the body. They are responsible for filtering out several toxins as well as excess materials from the blood. This filtered material is collected in the urinary bladder from where it is disposed of in the form of urine. This mechanism is conducted throughout the day and even happens at night. Most forms of hyperkalemia are associated with a failure of the kidneys to adequately remove potassium from the blood. There are also some hormones that control the mechanism of the kidney and regulate the rate at which substances are removed from the blood. An irregularity in the production and distribution of any of these hormones is likely to result in hyperkalemia.
One of the main causes of hyperkalemia is an increased potassium level in the body. The cells of the body also contain potassium. There are conditions under which this potassium is rapidly released into the blood stream which causes hyperkalemia to occur. Any physical injury is capable of having this effect on an individual. Burns or extreme injury could also cause this to happen. This can also occur immediately after surgery.
The treatment of hyperkalemia depends on the severity and the diagnosed cause of the condition. If the condition has been caused by an injury, the individual will probably be made to consume plenty of fluids which will stimulate kidney function and allow them to filter out the excess potassium over a period of time while under medical observation. In cases of acute hyperkalemia, more aggressive hyperkalemia treatments may be employed. These include the intravenous injection of glucose, insulin and calcium. Dialysis may also be recommended for people who have extremely high potassium content in their blood as this could trigger a cardiac event at any time. People who have a chronic condition of hyperkalemia will need to treat it with dietary changes and therapy including occasional dialysis.
