Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: annie123 on 07/01/2019 23:39:31

Title: What could cause a too high potassium count?
Post by: annie123 on 07/01/2019 23:39:31

Faulty kidneys, drug interactions have so far been dismissed.Kidneys are fine. But potassium level it over 6. Diet has been watched already- keeping to low potassium foods- although this is a bit difficult because of conflicting information. I drink enough liquid(no booze)  :(    don't eat processed food, or big portions,  am not fat, exercise etc.
- and why, by the way,  why do cooked veg have more potassium than raw ones?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Title: Re: What could cause a too high potassium count?
Post by: chris on 08/01/2019 07:55:00

You have referred to the most common causes of hyperkalaemia (raised potassium). For clarity, these are:

Renal failure (acute or chronic)
Antihypertensive drugs (beta blockers, ACE inhibitors)
Diabetes
Excessive potassium ingestion

These are also other, rarer causes like adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) where the adrenal cortex fails to produce adequate mineralocorticoid (pro-sodium-elevating) steroids; this leads to hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia.

Have all of these been excluded?

Title: Re: What could cause a too high potassium count?
Post by: annie123 on 09/01/2019 00:51:19

Adrenal function is in normal range. It was 'off' a while ago when I was taking dexamethosone but I have stopped that and the tests show the effects have worn off .
And - why do cooked veg have more potassium?

Title: Re: What could cause a too high potassium count?
Post by: chiralSPO on 09/01/2019 01:51:59

Obviously cooking won't make extra potassium appear out of thin air.
I think that cooking just makes the potassium more easily available by breaking down the cell walls.
Or it could be that the reported numbers don't account for loss of water during cooking. I could imagine 100 g of veggies cooking down to 90 g due to evaporated water. Thus 100 g of cooked veggies would have about 11% more potassium than 100 g of raw...