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Hyperkalemia Symptoms

Hyperkalemia is an elevated level of potassium in the blood. It's generally defined as a potassium level greater than 5.0 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Severe hyperkalemia is a potassium level greater than 7.0 mEq/L.

  1. Common Symptoms

    • Most cases hyperkalemia are asymptomatic or produce vague, general symptoms such as lethargy, muscle weakness and heart palpitations.

    Hyperventilation

    • Metabolic acidosis is essentially a condition involving a low blood pH and is one of the causes of hyperkalemia. Mild hyperventilation is a symptom of hyperkalemia due to metabolic acidosis.

    Complications

    • Severe hyperkalemia can cause complications such as cardiac arrhythmia or sudden death. In some cases, these are the first symptoms that hyperkalemia produces.

    Underlying Causes

    • Hyperkalemia is associated with the symptoms of its underlying cause, such as kidney disease, and medications that interfere with urination.

    Additional Symptoms

    • Hyperkalemia can be associated with other symptoms such as abdominal pain, high blood sugar and darkening of the skin. This can occur when the underlying cause is Addison's disease, a disorder of the adrenal gland.

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