{"id":56057,"date":"2022-12-26T09:30:44","date_gmt":"2022-12-26T14:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56057"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:58:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:58:53","slug":"how-to-flush-excess-potassium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-flush-excess-potassium\/","title":{"rendered":"How to lower potassium levels"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though potassium is an essential nutrient for your body, it’s possible to have too much. Potassium helps you have a healthy heart and muscles. But, when you hit potassium overload, it has a negative effect on your cardiovascular system. Keep reading to learn how much is too much and what to do if your levels are high.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is hyperkalemia?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hyperkalemia is the medical term when the potassium level in your blood is too high. <\/span>“Hyperkalemia can be dangerous if untreated,” says Frank J. Contacessa, MD, an internist at <\/span>MDVIP<\/span><\/a> in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. “The balance between sodium and potassium is important for the electrical signals that control the beating of the heart. If the potassium is too high for too long, a dangerously irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias) can occur.” Our bodies maintain a tight control of serum potassium by the intestines absorbing dietary potassium and the kidneys effectively excreting excesses in the urine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most common causes of high potassium include:<\/span><\/p>\n