How to deal with high potassium ions

High levels of potassium, known as hyperkalemia, is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte imbalance condition. In response to this situation, treatment strategies mainly include limiting potassium intake, reducing potassium with drugs, promoting potassium excretion, and adopting emergency dialysis when necessary.

1. Limit potassium intake

The first step is to stop potassium supplementation immediately and avoid eating potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, oranges and other fruits, as well as certain vegetables and dried fruits .

2. Drugs that lower potassium

1. Diuretics: They can increase potassium excretion by increasing urine excretion. Commonly used drugs include furosemide, torsemide, etc.

2. New potassium-lowering drugs: such as polystyrene sulfonate calcium powder, which can quickly reduce blood potassium levels.

3. Alkaline drugs: such as sodium bicarbonate, can reduce blood potassium by alkalizing urine.

3. Promote potassium excretion and transfer

In addition to drugs to excrete potassium, intravenous injection of glucose and insulin can also be used to promote the transfer of potassium ions from outside the cells to the cells, thereby reducing serum potassium concentration. .

For patients with extremely high blood potassium or those who are ineffective in drug treatment, hemodialysis is the most effective method of reducing potassium and can quickly remove excess potassium from the body.