Too Much Potassium (Hyperkalemia): Complications

The following are the major diseases or complications that may be contributed to by hyperkalemia (excess potassium):

Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Paralytic symptoms

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

  • Marked bradycardia secondary to AV block II° or III°.
  • Diarrhea (diarrhea)
  • Paresthesias (sensory disturbances; in this case: Tingling in extremities, furry sensation of the tongue).

Further

  • Muscle twitching
  • Increased mortality (death rate) from myocardial infarction (heart attack):
    • Increased 13.4% if a value of at least 5.0 mEq/l was measured only once
    • 16.2% increased when hyperkalemia was measured twice
    • 19.8% elevated when a value of at least 5.0 mEq/l was reached at least three times