10 Symptoms of Too Much Potassium
Potassium is a very important mineral for our bodies. It performs functions such as helping to regulate the balance of fluids in the body, among others.
Potassium is an electrolyte, and this means it helps the body to send electrical signals throughout our system of nerves. Fortunately, potassium is plentiful in most diets, and bananas in particular are a very good source of the mineral.
While it is essential to have some potassium in our body, however, it is possible to have too much potassium in your diet. Here’s a few of the signs that you should look out for.
It is important to know that most cases of hyperkalemia (increased potassium in the bloodstream) are not due to excessive dietary intake. It is very uncommon to see a patient developing symptoms of hyperkalemia just by increasing potassium intake. Most cases are due to electrolyte imbalance and excretion problems in the kidney.
Symptom #1: Nausea
Nausea can be caused by so many things that are harmless that it will often not make us think we are sick. Even just catching a certain aroma can be enough to have some people feeling ill. We will often just try to lie down for a while and hope it passes, which it usually will. It won’t always pass so easily, however.
If the nausea won’t pass in a few hours or so then there’s a good chance it is being caused by an underlying problem. That problem could be too much potassium. If you feel as though something is not right then you should get to a doctor when you can.
Symptom #2: Fatigue
We all have those days when we just can’t seem to get going. No matter how hard we try, it can be difficult to muster the energy to get things done. It often happens for no apparent reason, but we will usually be feeling just fine the following day.
Some medical conditions, however, can leave us feeling like that every day. We feel sapped of energy and as though we have little to no physical strength. There are numerous conditions that can cause this and one of them is having too much potassium in the body. It is something you should get checked regardless of the suspected cause.
Symptom #3: Numbness
Some medical conditions, such as having too much potassium in the body, can affect the proper function of our nerves. This can result in the symptom of numbness in some part of the body, particularly the extremities.
Some patients will complain that they feel a tingling sensation instead.
Symptom #4: Muscle Pain
We might occasionally experience some pain in our muscles if we have been sitting awkwardly. Athletes might also feel pain sometimes as they push their muscles hard. Most of the time, though, it is not usual to feel pain often. Some medical conditions, however, can cause people to feel pain almost all the time.
A fairly common complaint in people with too much potassium in their body is that their muscles hurt. This is because potassium is important for the proper functioning of our muscles, and having too much of it can affect how our muscles work.
Symptom #5: Cramps
Cramps are most often experienced by athletes that are not in peak physical condition, but they can be experienced by other people as well. They are caused when signals are sent to the muscle telling them to contract involuntarily. There is often little that can be done, and they are sometimes very painful.
Because potassium is so important in regards to signals being sent to the muscles, too much of it can cause the signals to become confused. This can result in cramps and it can happen to people of all fitness levels. The cramps should hopefully stop once the high potassium levels have been addressed.
Symptom #6: Muscle Weakness
Strong muscles are not only important for athletes. Having strong muscles also makes it easier for people to move around freely and they also provide other health benefits, such as helping to burn off excess fat. If you have too much potassium in your body, though, then you can lose some of this strength.
Potassium is important for us because it helps our muscles to work, but too much of it can have an opposite effect. Patients can feel as though they become physically weaker, no matter how healthy they might otherwise be. Patients should be able to regain their strength once potassium levels have reached normal levels again.
Symptom #7: Chest Pains
If you develop pains in the chest, it can be quite an alarming situation. A pain in the chest is closely associated with a heart attack so it is no wonder that it can cause a lot of people to panic. Fortunately, it is usually not down to a heart attack and it could be down to something like having too much potassium in the body.
Bear in mind, though, that although these pains do not always mean a heart attack, it could still be something very serious. If you do experience these pains and the cause is not explained then you should seek medical assistance straightaway.
Symptom #8: Difficulty Breathing
We cannot live without oxygen, and it will only take a few short minutes without the gas before we die. This is not usually a problem for us, though, because our lungs are able to extract all the oxygen we need from the air that we breathe. Of course, though, this depends on our lungs functioning properly.
Potassium helps to regulate the functioning of all of our muscles, including those that help our lungs to inflate and deflate. As such, having too much of it in the body can mean the lungs don’t function as well as they normally would. It is something that can be dangerous so it should be seen to as soon as possible.
Symptom #9: Slow Heartbeat
The rate at which our heart beats will fluctuate. When we are exercising, for example, it will speed up to help compensate for the increased demand in oxygen. When we are at rest, there is less need for oxygen, so our heart will beat at a slower rate. This is very normal, but it should not slow down too much.
Patients with too much potassium in their body can find that their heart slows down to unsafe levels. If the heart is beating too slowly, then it is unlikely the body will be getting the nutrition and oxygen that it needs.
Symptom #10: Irregular Beats
Every now and then, our hearts will skip a beat. It is a fairly common phenomenon and it is not usually something that we should be overly concerned about. If it occurs too regularly, though, then it should cause some concern. It is a condition that can be caused by having too much potassium in the body.
Too much potassium in the body can affect the proper functioning of the heart, which is mostly muscle. This can cause irregular heartbeats, and this can interrupt the flow of blood around the body. It is something that should be taken seriously because it can pose a threat to your life.
