Hyperkalemia history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
==History and Symptoms== | ==History and Symptoms== | ||
=== | ===Symptoms=== | ||
[[Hyperkalemia]] often has no symptoms and the problem may be detected during screening [[blood test]]s for a medical disorder, or it only comes to medical attention after complications have developed, such as [[cardiac arrhythmia]] or [[Cardiac arrest|sudden death]].. Patients may present with the following symptoms:irregular heartbeat, nausea, slow, weak, or absent pulse. Extreme degrees of hyperkalemia are considered a medical emergency due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias. | [[Hyperkalemia]] often has no symptoms and the problem may be detected during screening [[blood test]]s for a medical disorder, or it only comes to medical attention after complications have developed, such as [[cardiac arrhythmia]] or [[Cardiac arrest|sudden death]].. Patients may present with the following symptoms:irregular heartbeat, nausea, slow, weak, or absent pulse. Extreme degrees of hyperkalemia are considered a medical emergency due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias. | ||
Symptoms are fairly nonspecific and may include | |||
* [[Malaise]] | |||
* [[Palpitations]] | |||
* [[Muscle weakness]] | |||
* Mild breathlessness may indicate [[metabolic acidosis]], one of the settings in which hyperkalemia may occur. | |||
===History=== | |||
* Dietary history - Diet with low sodium and rich in potassium such as | * Dietary history - Diet with low sodium and rich in potassium such as | ||
** Fruits, dried fruits, juices, banana and vegetables | ** Fruits, dried fruits, juices, banana and vegetables | ||
| Line 29: | Line 38: | ||
** Urinary tract obstruction - Type IV renal tubular acidosis, also called hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis. It can be seen with polycystic kidney disease, amyloidosis and diabetes mellitus. | ** Urinary tract obstruction - Type IV renal tubular acidosis, also called hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis. It can be seen with polycystic kidney disease, amyloidosis and diabetes mellitus. | ||
** The combination of [[abdominal pain]], [[hypoglycemia]] and [[hyperpigmentation]], often in the context of a history of other [[Autoimmune diseases|autoimmune disorders]], may be signs of [[Addison's disease]], itself a medical emergency. | ** The combination of [[abdominal pain]], [[hypoglycemia]] and [[hyperpigmentation]], often in the context of a history of other [[Autoimmune diseases|autoimmune disorders]], may be signs of [[Addison's disease]], itself a medical emergency. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 01:44, 26 November 2011
|
Hyperkalemia Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Hyperkalemia history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hyperkalemia history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Hyperkalemia history and symptoms |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Hyperkalemia is an elevated blood level (above 5.0 mmol/L) of the electrolyte potassium. Hyperkalemia often has no symptoms. Occasionally, people may have the following symptoms:Irregular heartbeat, nausea, slow, weak, or absent pulse. Extreme degrees of hyperkalemia are considered a medical emergency due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias.
History and Symptoms
Symptoms
Hyperkalemia often has no symptoms and the problem may be detected during screening blood tests for a medical disorder, or it only comes to medical attention after complications have developed, such as cardiac arrhythmia or sudden death.. Patients may present with the following symptoms:irregular heartbeat, nausea, slow, weak, or absent pulse. Extreme degrees of hyperkalemia are considered a medical emergency due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Symptoms are fairly nonspecific and may include
- Malaise
- Palpitations
- Muscle weakness
- Mild breathlessness may indicate metabolic acidosis, one of the settings in which hyperkalemia may occur.
History
- Dietary history - Diet with low sodium and rich in potassium such as
- Fruits, dried fruits, juices, banana and vegetables
- Diets recommended for patients with cardiac disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus
- Potassium supplements in herbal supplements, salt substitutes
- Medications history (drugs causing a decreased excretion of potassium)
- Potassium-sparing diuretics, especially popular in the treatment of cirrhosis and congestive heart failure
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers
- Cyclosporine or tacrolimus
- Antibiotics, such as pentamidine or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
- Medical history
- Renal failure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Sickle cell disease or trait
- Urinary tract obstruction - Type IV renal tubular acidosis, also called hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis. It can be seen with polycystic kidney disease, amyloidosis and diabetes mellitus.
- The combination of abdominal pain, hypoglycemia and hyperpigmentation, often in the context of a history of other autoimmune disorders, may be signs of Addison's disease, itself a medical emergency.
References
Template:Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic pathology