Symptom: Hyperkalemia

Introduction: Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia: Abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood. See free access online books about Hyperkalemia below. See detailed information below for a list of 95 causes of Hyperkalemia, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Hyperkalemia: full list

Causes of Hyperkalemia:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Hyperkalemia. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Increased ingestion of potassium
• Increased ingestion of high potassium foods
• Increased ingestion of potassium containing drugs
• IV fluids containing potassium
• Blood transfusion of stored blood
• Acute kidney failure
• Chronic kidney failure
• See also causes of acute and chronic renal failure
• Digoxin poisoning
• Diabetes
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Haemolytic anaemia
• See also causes of red blood cell lysis
• Leukaemia (type of Blood cancer)
• Lysis of tumour mass
• Internal bleeding
• Gastrointestinal tract bleeds
• See also causes of gastrointestinal bleeding
• Muscle wasting
• Fasting
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Strenuous exercise
• Muscle damage
• Tissue damage
• Urinary tract obstruction
• Adrenal gland disorders
• Addison's disease
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Transplanted kidneys

See full list of 95 causes of Hyperkalemia

» Review Causes of Hyperkalemia: full list

Causes of Types of Hyperkalemia:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Hyperkalemia:

• Severe hyperkalemia

More types of Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Hyperkalemia, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Hyperkalemia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Hyperkalemia and Digestive symptoms (23 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Muscle weakness (22 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Fatigue (19 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Vomiting (18 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Nerve symptoms (18 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Pain (18 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Sensations (18 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Dehydration (16 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Skin problems (16 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Skin symptoms (16 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Weakness (16 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Abdominal symptoms (16 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Weight loss (15 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Behavioral symptoms (15 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Muscle symptoms (15 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Blood pressure symptoms (14 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Low blood pressure (14 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Heart symptoms (13 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Sexual symptoms (13 causes)
• Hyperkalemia and Syncope (13 causes)

See full list of 897 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Hyperkalemia

Home Diagnostic Testing and Hyperkalemia

Home medical tests possibly related to Hyperkalemia:

• Fatigue: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Anemia Tests
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests
  • Home Calcium Deficiency Tests
  • Home HIV Tests

Diagnostic Guides for Hyperkalemia

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Hyperkalemia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Hyperkalemia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Hyperkalemia

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Hyperkalemia

Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite common in women, but often fails to be correctly diagnosed. Women with the condition tend to have heavy periods, since they actually have a bleeding disorder. Severe afflictions may result in the women receiving a hysterectomy unnecessarily, when the underlying cause has not been identified. See the introduction to Von Willebrand's disease and bleeding disorder....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Hyperkalemia

Diagnostic tests for Hyperkalemia:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Hyperkalemia. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Blood pressure ( postural lowering of blood pressure with Addison's disease)
  • Examine for signs of Addison's disease such as dehydration; dull grey-brown pigmentation in the mouth (around the molars), hands and in new scars; loss of body hair
• Blood tests
  • Ensure tourniquet used to collect blood is not excessively tight as this can cause elevated potassium

See full list of 16 diagnostic tests for Hyperkalemia

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Hyperkalemia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• Symptoms of elevated potassium? - may be without symptoms. Muscle weakness may be the only symptom.
• Complications of elevated potassium? - e.g. low blood pressure, reduced pulse rate, abnormal rhythms of the heart, cardiac arrest, sudden death.
• Recent vigorous exercise? - may cause elevated potassium.
• Recent severe burns? - may cause elevated potassium.
• Recent severe trauma, especially muscular crush injuries? - may cause elevated potassium.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Hyperkalemia (9 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Hyperkalemia) may include:

• Symptoms of Addison's disease? - symptoms are often vague but may include e.g. weight loss, loss of appetite, tiredness, weakness, fever, depression, lack of menstrual periods, impotence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, fainting, abdominal pain, constipation, muscle aches.
• Symptoms of acute renal failure? - The early stages of renal failure are often completely without symptoms. Later symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, insomnia, frequency of urination, itch, nausea, vomiting, restless legs.
• Symptoms of diabetic acidosis? - include symptoms of uncontrolled type 1 Diabetes mellitus (frequency of urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, tiredness, fatigue) and symptoms of acidosis (lack of strength, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting and sometimes abdominal pain).

See Diagnosis Checklist for Hyperkalemia (9 listings)

Stories from Users for Hyperkalemia

Real-life user stories relating to Hyperkalemia:

• Hyperkalemia
• Cirrhosis & High Blood Sugers, Lethargic?
• High Fever for 1.5 Month... Blood tests done with the following results
• questions about hyperkalemia..
• Potassium Level of 9.6

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Hyperkalemia or relevant symptoms:

• Constitutional (General Wellbeing) (156)
  • Sore Scalp/hair follicles
  • Fat loss in entire body
  • Dont know how much more I can take..
  • I'm Lost.
  • My wife does not sweat I'm worried
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Genitourinary (The urination system) (138)
  • Burning In Penis After Urination. Std/urine Culture = Negative
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)
  • I KEEP PEEING AND I DONT KNOW WHY!! Iplease some1 help me
  • Excessive Burping..
  • Swollen (enlarged)Kidneys, normal blood tests (no stones)Dr.'s not helping
  • More user stories
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories

Videos for Hyperkalemia

Patient Surveys for Hyperkalemia

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Causes of Hyperkalemia listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Hyperkalemia as a symptom include:

• Acidosis
• Adrenal cortex insufficiency
• Amiloride
• Arsenic trioxide
• Arsenicals
• Autoimmune adrenalitis
• Blood transfusion and complications
• Burns
• Captopril
• Cilazapril
• Crush syndrome
• Cuffed blood sample
• Delayed separation blood sample
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Digoxin
• Drip arm sample
• EDTA blood sample
• Eplerenone
• Erythropoietin
• Haemolysed blood sample

See full list of 95 causes of Hyperkalemia
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Hyperkalemia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Hyperkalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Drugs affecting kidney excretion of potassium
• Amiloride
• Spironolactone
• Other drugs
• NSAIDs

See full list of 19 medications causing Hyperkalemia

Drug interactions causing Hyperkalemia:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Hyperkalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• ACE inhibitor and ACE Inhibitor interaction
• ACE inhibitor and Potassium-sparing diuretic interaction
• ACE inhibitor and Potassium Supplement interaction
• Amiloride and ACE Inhibitor interaction
• Apo-Amilzide and ACE Inhibitor interaction

See full list of 347 drug interactions causing Hyperkalemia

Definitions of Hyperkalemia:

Hyperkalemia: A greater than normal concentration of potassium ions in the circulating blood. SYN: hyperkaliemia, hyperpotassemia. [hyper- + G. kalium, potash, + G. haima, blood]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Abnormally high potassium concentration in the blood, most often due to defective renal excretion. It is characterized clinically by electrocardiographic abnormalities (elevated T waves and depressed P waves, and eventually by atrial asystole). In severe cases, weakness and flaccid paralysis may occur. (Dorland, 27th ed)
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Higher than normal levels of potassium in the circulating blood; associated with kidney failure or sometimes with the use of diuretic drugs
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Abnormally high potassium concentration in the blood, most often due to defective renal excretion; characterized clinically by electrocardiographic abnormalities; in severe cases, weakness and flaccid paralysis may occur.
- (Source - CRISP)

Organs affected by Hyperkalemia:

The list of organs typically affected by Hyperkalemia may include, but is not limited to:

• Blood

Detailed list of causes of Hyperkalemia

The list below shows some of the causes of Hyperkalemia mentioned in various sources:

• 18-Hydroxylase deficiency - hyperkalemia
• Acid-Base Imbalance - hyperkalemia
• Acidosis
• ACTH Deficiency - high blood potassium
• Acute kidney failure

See full list of 95 causes of Hyperkalemia

How Common are these Causes of Hyperkalemia?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Hyperkalemia. Of the 95 causes of Hyperkalemia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 1 causes are "very common" diseases
• 1 causes are "common" diseases
• 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 1 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 94 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 95 causes of Hyperkalemia

Conditions listing symptoms: Hyperkalemia:

The following list of conditions have 'Hyperkalemia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Hyperkalemia Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Hyperkalemia based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: