|  | Conditions Treatments | Metabolism Disorders

Sodium Bicarbonate & Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a condition in which a person's potassium level is too high. This can be dangerous because potassium regulates the heartbeat. Sometimes hyperkalemia is due to excessive acid in the body tissues; this can be rectified with sodium bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acid.

  1. Symptoms of hyperkalemia

    • According to Medline Plus, hyperkalemia can cause irregular heartbeat, nausea, and a slow or weak pulse. If left untreated, hyperkalemia can cause death by cardiac arrest.

    Causes of hyperkalemia

    • Hyperkalemia is generally caused by a kidney malfunction, as it is the kidneys' job to remove excess potassium from the bloodstream. Some forms of hyperkalemia are caused by acidosis, a condition in which there is more acid in body tissues than necessary. Acidosis can be treated by introducing a base such as sodium bicarbonate into the body to neutralize acid.

    Treatment for hyperkalemia

    • Medline Plus says that hyperkalemia always requires hospitalization, as the patient is at risk of cardiac arrest until potassium levels are brought under control. In the hospital, doctors will attempt to isolate and treat the cause for hyperkalemia. Patients may be given sodium bicarbonate as part of the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. The patient will also be hooked up to an EKG machine to monitor the heart rate and may be given calcium, glucose, or insulin intravenously to try to remove excessive potassium.

    Exploring the causes of acidosis

    • If acidosis s determined to be the primary cause of the patient's hyperkalemia, sodium bicarbonate may be prescribed. However, this merely keeps the symptoms under control. Acidosis may have many causes, including untreated diabetes, hypoglycemia, or liver or heart failure. It is important that your doctor discovers and treats these potentially life-threatening conditions.

    Conditions that Sodium Bicarbonate Does Not Affect

    • Sodium bicarbonate is only effective for treating acidosis. If hyperkalemia is caused by kidney failure, Addison's disease or the rejection of a transplanted kidney, sodium bicarbonate is not an effective treatment.

Metabolism Disorders - Related Articles