Introduction:

Renal potassium has important physiological functions in human body, such as participating in cell generation and metabolism, maintaining osmotic pressure and acid-base balance, and regulating body fluid balance. The normal blood potassium concentration is between 3.5 and 5.5 mmol/L, and when the blood potassium content is higher than 5.5 mmol/L, it is called hyperkalemia. Under normal circumstances, 80-90% of potassium is excreted by the kidneys. Hyperkalemia often occurs when renal function is impaired, urine volume is reduced or dialysis is incomplete.

Symptoms of hyperkalemia:

The main clinical manifestations of hyperkalemia are cardiovascular system and neuromuscular system, and the severity of its symptoms depends on the degree and speed of potassium increase in blood and whether there is disorder of plasma electrolyte and water metabolism.

In the early stage of nervous system symptoms, numbness, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, pale limbs and cold and dampness often appear. In severe cases, numbness and paralysis of limbs may occur, and the trunk, limbs and respiratory muscles are affected first, leading to suffocation, central nervous system excitement or unconsciousness.

It is characterized by slow cardiovascular heart rate, hypoxia and weakened heart sounds, which is prone to arrhythmia. In severe cases, it leads to myocardial paralysis, ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation, and finally cardiac arrest.

Others: the clinical manifestations are mostly oliguria or uremia; Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Dietary precautions:

Hyperkalemia in patients with nephropathy is often accompanied by decreased urine output. Therefore, besides strictly limiting the intake of potassium, we should also limit the intake of liquid and protein.

Daily fluid volume should be controlled in the previous day's urine volume plus 500-800ml. It is best to buy a graduated cup at home to control the total amount of drinking water.

The patient's condition is stable, and the daily protein should be controlled at 0.5-0.6g/kg when urinating a little. Among them, high-quality protein such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs and milk should be selected, accounting for more than 60% of the total intake in protein.

At the same time, it is necessary to ensure sufficient energy, mainly sugar, to prevent excessive weight loss and accelerated fat decomposition, leading to ketoacidosis and further aggravating the symptoms of hyperkalemia.