Any dialysis patient who has had a brush with high potassium will know only too well how dangerous this can be. We are forever being told to watch our potassium intake, so I thought I would explore
reasons for this, and what practical steps we can take to limit risks.For your cells to function properly, it is important that you maintain right level of potassium, unfortunately, for those of us with kidney disease, there is no way for our bodies to rid themselves of this potassium. As too high a level of potassium can cause muscle weakness, affect heart rhythm and may even cause death, it is critical that we manage our intake carefully, in consultation with our dietician, clinical nurse, and renal specialist.
Some signs that your potassium may be too high might include, but are not limited to: nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider, or take yourself off to nearest hospital – post haste!
So it’s all well and good to know that a high potassium level is dangerous, and what symptoms are and what to do if we experience symptoms, but what can we do to avoid this danger? Well I’m glad you asked!
Whilst some external factors affect level of potassium in blood of a dialysis patient, one major thing that you can do is to manage your diet. Avoid foods that are high in potassium, and you stay out of danger zone. It’s as simple as that!
