HYPERKALEMIA

What is Hyperkalemia?
Hyperkalemia means there is too much potassium in your blood. Potassium is a mineral that helps your heart, muscles, and nerves work well. Your body gets potassium from the foods you eat, and your kidneys remove extra potassium in urine. If the level of potassium gets too high, it can be dangerous, especially for your heart.

Causes of Hyperkalemia

• Kidney problems (kidneys can’t remove potassium well)
  
  

• Certain medicines like some blood pressure drugs, water pills that keep potassium, or potassium supplements
  
  

• Eating too many high-potassium foods when you have kidney disease
  
  

• Severe injury, burns, or infections that release potassium from cells into the blood
  
  

• Uncontrolled diabetes
  
  

• Dehydration (not enough fluids in the body)
  
  

Risks of Having Hyperkalemia

• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
  
  

• Weakness and muscle problems
  
  

• Can lead to heart stopping (cardiac arrest)
  
  

• Can be life-threatening if not treated quickly
  
  

Symptoms of Hyperkalemia

• Muscle weakness or tiredness
  
  

• Numbness or tingling
  
  

• Nausea or vomiting
  
  

• Irregular or fast heartbeat
  
  

• Feeling faint or dizzy
  
  

• In severe cases: sudden collapse or no pulse
  
  

Treatment for Hyperkalemia

• Medicines to help remove potassium from the body (by urine or moving it back into cells)
  
  

• Dialysis if kidneys are not working well
  
  

• Stopping or changing medicines that raise potassium
  
  

• Changing diet to lower potassium intake
  
  

• Treating the cause (like infection, dehydration, or uncontrolled diabetes)
  
  

Diet for Hyperkalemia
Your doctor or dietitian may tell you to LIMIT high-potassium foods such as:

• Bananas, oranges, melons
  
  

• Potatoes, tomatoes, spinach
  
  

• Beans, nuts, and seeds
  
  

• Dairy products like milk and yogurt
  
  

Lower-potassium choices may include:

• Apples, berries, grapes, pears
  
  

• Green beans, lettuce, cucumbers
  
  

• White bread, rice, pasta
  
  

Other Considerations and Precautions

• Always check with your doctor before taking salt substitutes (many have potassium)
  
  

• Take medicines exactly as prescribed
  
  

• Keep all lab appointments to check potassium levels
  
  

• Drink fluids as directed by your healthcare provider
  
  

• Never start or stop medicines on your own
  
  

When to Call Your Home Health Nurse or Doctor

Call if you have:

• New or worsening muscle weakness
  
  

• Numbness or tingling
  
  

• Nausea or vomiting
  
  

• Mild irregular heartbeat or feeling that your heart “skips” a beat
  
  

• Questions about your diet or medicines
  
  

Go to the Emergency Room Immediately If You Have:

• Severe chest pain
  
  

• Fast or very irregular heartbeat
  
  

• Severe weakness or trouble moving
  
  

• Feeling faint, dizzy, or about to pass out
  
  

• Sudden collapse or no pulse
  
  

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911

Patient Homework / Assessment

Write “True” or “False” and correct False statements.

1. ___ Hyperkalemia means too much potassium in the blood.
   
   

2. ___ Potassium helps the heart, muscles, and nerves work well.
   
   

3. ___ Kidneys help remove extra potassium from the body.
   
   

4. ___ Eating lots of bananas and tomatoes can raise potassium levels.
   
   

5. ___ Kidney problems can cause potassium to build up in the blood.
   
   

6. ___ Medicines can sometimes raise potassium levels.
   
   

7. ___ Muscle weakness and numbness can be symptoms of hyperkalemia.
   
   

8. ___ Hyperkalemia is never dangerous to the heart.
   
   

9. ___ An irregular heartbeat can be caused by high potassium.
   
   

10. ___ Salt substitutes may contain potassium.
    
    

11. ___ If you have kidney disease, you may need to limit high-potassium foods.
    
    

12. ___ Drinking fluids as your doctor says can help control potassium.
    
    

13. ___ Uncontrolled diabetes can be a cause of hyperkalemia.
    
    

14. ___ Severe hyperkalemia can lead to cardiac arrest (heart stopping).
    
    

15. ___ Potatoes and spinach are high in potassium.
    
    

16. ___ Apples and grapes are examples of lower-potassium fruits.
    
    

17. ___ You should stop your medicines on your own if you think they raise potassium.
    
    

18. ___ Dialysis can help remove potassium if kidneys are not working.
    
    

19. ___ Feeling faint or dizzy can be a sign of high potassium.
    
    

20. ___ You should go to the ER if you have chest pain or a very irregular heartbeat.
    
    

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

MY MOST RECENT POTASSIUM LEVEL WAS______________

Symptom Identification:

1. Have you noticed muscle weakness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, or numbness/tingling that could be signs of high potassium?
   
   

Activity Impact / Safety:
2. Are you feeling too weak, dizzy, or unsteady to safely do your normal daily activities?

Treatment Adherence:
3. Have you been able to follow your doctor’s instructions, such as taking medications, limiting high-potassium foods, or following IV therapy if prescribed?

Preventive Measures:
4. What steps are you taking to prevent potassium levels from getting too high, such as avoiding certain foods or supplements and checking your labs as instructed?

Additional Information (labs):
5. Do you know when your next blood tests are scheduled to check potassium levels and why it is important to keep these appointments?

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911