Cures for High Potassium

High potassium or hyperkalemia is most likely caused by malfunctioning kidneys. According to the Mayo Clinic at www.mayoclinic.com, other contributing factors may be certain medications, Addison's disease, alcoholism, drug abuse or excessive use of potassium supplements. Symptoms of hyperkalmeia include nausea, abnormal heart rhythms, weakness or muscle fatigue. Find out what you can do to reduce elevated amounts of potassium.

Diet

• Limit potassium-containing foods from the diet. According to the National Institutes of Health at www.nlm.nih.gov, people with hyperkalemia must reduce the amount of potassium in their diet and supplements. Avoid taking any supplements with potassium. Reduce the amount of acorn squash, potatoes, butternut squash, lentils, spinach, navy beans, bananas, orange juice, yogurt and cantaloupes. Be sure to look at food labels in soups and processed foods to be sure that you aren't getting one of these potassium-rich foods.

  Avoid salt substitutes. Salt substitutes like in seasonings and packaged foods that claim "low-salt" often contain potassium.

Loop Diuretics

• Take loop diuretics or water pills. These pills help the body flush out excess water through urination by blocking the absorption of sodium. As the excess water leaves the kidneys, normal function may return. Bumex and Lasix are two of the most popular prescribed drugs. Avoid becoming dehydrated when taking these drugs by drinking water. Side effects may include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. Contact your doctor if you notice signs of rash, vertigo or fever.

Medication

• Medications for hyperkalemia flush potassium from the bloodstream and to the cells, stabilize the heart and promote excretion of excess potassium. Typically, drugs like Kayexalate attach themselves to potassium and have it removed from the gastrointestinal tract. Kayexalate causes some side effects like vomiting, nausea and constipation. Contact your doctor if bronchitis-like symptoms start to occur.

Dialysis

• According to Nirupama Putcha and Michael Allon of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, intravenous calcium should be used to stabilize the myocardium. The myocardium is the middle muscular wall of the heart. It allows for the heart to contract. In addition, intravenous nebulized albuterol and insulin are able to shift in the cells and lower potassium levels. Their study reports that the common method of using intravenous bicarbonate and cation exchange resins do not have the same promising results. Typically, dialysis takes a few hours and requires for you to be closely watched. The University of Maryland at www.umm.edu suggests for the dialysis treatment to work to its full potential it is vitally important to avoid missing a dialysis appointment.