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Can Hyperkalemia Impair Cardiac Function?
Question: I'm taking several BP Meds my BP is great 122/69 I have congestive heart failure diastolic I'm always tired and want to sit and do nothing if started taking my potassium cl 10meq ER what are the symptoms of low potassium?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that low potassium levels could lead to muscular and cardiac dysfunction. Weakness and fatigue are the most common complaints. The muscular weakness that occurs with low potassium levels can manifest in other ways (shortness of breath, constipation or abdominal distention, exercise intolerance). With severe low potassium levels or total body potassium deficits, muscle cramps and pain can occur and even lead to complete paralysis.
Cardiac arrhythmia can also occur.
So,your fatigue could be related to low potassium levels, especially if this has been revealed by your performed blood tests.
If you are taking diuretics, you should know that they often lead to low potassium levels.
For this reason, it is important to take potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, amiloride or triamterene. These drugs have a main effect on reducing potassium loss and increasing its plasma levels. They have a weak anti-hypertensive effect.
So, you should discuss with your attending physician on adding one of the above mentioned drugs, to your actual therapy if your potassium levels are low.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that low potassium levels could lead to muscular and cardiac dysfunction. Weakness and fatigue are the most common complaints. The muscular weakness that occurs with low potassium levels can manifest in other ways (shortness of breath, constipation or abdominal distention, exercise intolerance). With severe low potassium levels or total body potassium deficits, muscle cramps and pain can occur and even lead to complete paralysis.
Cardiac arrhythmia can also occur.
So,your fatigue could be related to low potassium levels, especially if this has been revealed by your performed blood tests.
If you are taking diuretics, you should know that they often lead to low potassium levels.
For this reason, it is important to take potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, amiloride or triamterene. These drugs have a main effect on reducing potassium loss and increasing its plasma levels. They have a weak anti-hypertensive effect.
So, you should discuss with your attending physician on adding one of the above mentioned drugs, to your actual therapy if your potassium levels are low.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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