How to Lower High Potassium Level in Kidney Failure

Potassium is a necessary mineral for body.It can balance the acid-base balance and also can control nerve and muscle function. In right condition,the levels of potassium in blood keep between 3.5 and 5.5 mEq/L.However,high potassium level can occur in kidney failure and it is a very dangerous condition.

Causes of high potassium level in blood in kidney failure

Healthy kidneys can remove excess potassium from outside in right condition.So the level of potassium in blood can keep at a constant level.However,when the kidneys are impaired, they fail to remove excess potassium from body properly, thus resulting in high level of potassium in blood.

Side effects of high potassium level

High potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia.This mainly occurs in people with advanced stages of CKD.Some of the side effects of high potassium in blood are:

*nausea

*weakness

*numbness or tingling

*slow pulse

*irregular heartbeat

*heart failure

*sudden death

Due to so many side effects of high potassium levels, it is important for the Kidney Failure patients to keep potassium level under control.

How to lower high potassium level in kidney failure?

Dialysis is a very effective at removing excess potassium from the blood. Between dialysis treatments, however, potassium levels rise. Also, if the patients with kidney failure skip dialysis or shorten dialysis treatment, excess potassium will also build up in blood. Therefore, the patients should never skip or shorten dialysis treatments.

Another way is to keep a low-potassium diet as foods are the major sources of potassium in body.The patients should limit or avoid dairy products.Fruits and vegetables high in potassium like bananas,dried fruits,kiwi,oranges,potatoes,pumpkin,dried beans, tomatoes etc should be avoided.You can email to kidneycares@hotmail.com to get a list of foods with high level of potassium.

As high levels of potassium in blood can be very dangerous, you should never neglect it. If your potassium level in blood is higher, you should go to see a doctor at once.