Potassium

[shirleymahoney]

Could someone please tell me what Potassium overload symptoms are, ????

Shirley

[Laoshur]

Shirley,

First of all, I want to say that if you really have excess potassium, you should take it seriously. The Na/K balance is critical for nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and for surface interactions in all human and animal cells. So if this balance is off, the results will tend to affect many systems.

I found the following list on a site for nurses: "Hyperkalemia (serum potassium > 5.0 mEq/L) symptoms: diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmias/arrest, ECG abnormalities, irritability, apathy, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, paresthesias"

This came from: http://www.geronurseonline.org/index.cfm?section_id=31&geriatric_topic_id=11&sub_section_id=76&tab=1

So what is going on with you that you asked this? Certainly this is a risk that many of us have due to the effects and interactions of several heart drugs.

Rhoda

[Sarah]

Aside--Rhoda --HOW ARE YOU???

Shirley--Here are the symptoms of LOW potassium:
Potassium plays an essential role in the proper functioning of a wide range of systems in the body, including the kidneys, muscles, and nerves. As a result, a potassium deficiency may have a wide range of effects, including dry mouth, thirst, reduced urination, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, low blood pressure, restlessness, muscle cramps, abnormal heart rate, nausea, and vomiting.

TOO MUCH POTASSIUM SYMPTOMS:
Blood in stools, cardiac arrest, irregular heartbeat, muscle paralysis, muscle weakness

Serious stuff.