Symptoms of hyperkalemia in the elderly

Many diseases have an incubation period, and the body will give some signs before many diseases occur. But unfortunately, most people ignore these signs, especially some elderly people who have been frugal all their lives and start taking care of their children when they are old. They have always paid very little attention to themselves and even if they have some problems with their bodies, they will simply take some medicine to solve the problem. But this can cause some diseases to emerge more aggressively, such as hyperkalemia in the elderly.

So what are the symptoms of hyperkalemia in the elderly? What aspects of hyperkalemia in the elderly require special attention? What should patients with this disease pay attention to in their diet? These issues are very important for those who have elderly people with this disease in their family.

Hyperkalemia in the elderly refers to serum potassium >5.5mmol/L. In hyperkalemia, the total body potassium does not necessarily increase, but the distribution of potassium inside and outside cells is abnormal. Unless the kidneys themselves are diseased, renal function is not reduced in the elderly; therefore, hyperkalemia is less common than hypokalemia. In other words, the probability of elderly people suffering from hyperkalemia is not very high, but it is not zero. Knowing these indicators, children will not misjudge that their parents suffer from hyperkalemia.

Until arrhythmia occurs, hyperkalemia often has no symptoms, or only vague weakness and paresthesia. Early changes in the electrocardiogram are tall and peaked T waves and shortened QTc interval (indicating a blood potassium level of >5.5mmol/L). As blood potassium further increases, nodal and ventricular arrhythmias may occur, accompanied by widening of the QRS complex and prolonged PR interval. Finally, ventricular fibrillation or ventricular arrest may occur. Severe hyperkalemia may also cause flaccid muscle paralysis. But this is a very serious condition, which means it is difficult to cure if treated at this time.

Through the introduction of the above content, we can understand that the symptoms of hyperkalemia in the elderly are not very easy to judge in the early stage. Generally, hypokalemia is more common. The most important thing is for the elderly to undergo normal physical examinations and solve the problem as soon as possible. Once symptoms such as ventricular arrest appear, it is a more serious time.