What do high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia) mean, and what can you do about this situation? Find out. 

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Timestamps
0:00 High blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
1:20 Hyperkalemia causes 
2:30 Typical hyperkalemia treatment 
3:05 Hypokalemia 
3:20 Symptoms of hypokalemia
3:30 Testing for hyperkalemia and hypokalemia 

Today we’re going to talk about high levels of potassium in your blood, which is called hyperkalemia. 

98% of all of the potassium in your body is actually inside of your cells, not outside of the cells or in your blood. When evaluating hyperkalemia, we’re really looking at just the 2%, so we’re not seeing the whole picture of what’s going on. 

Considering that the majority of the potassium is inside of the cell, measuring potassium levels based on the blood may not be a good way to determine if a person has too much or too little potassium. However, there is an intracellular potassium test that I believe is much more valuable. 

A few important things about hyperkalemia:  
• It’s very rare
• There are very few symptoms associated with hyperkalemia (severe cases may cause palpitations, tiredness, muscle pain, and muscle weakness)
• There is a condition called pseudohyperkalemia (which is basically a false impression that you have high levels of potassium in the blood)
• Excessive intake of potassium is not a primary cause of hyperkalemia 

A few causes of hyperkalemia: 
• Advanced kidney disease 
• Addison’s disease 
• NSAIDs 
• Certain high blood pressure medications
 
The typical treatment for hyperkalemia typically involves taking:
• Calcium 
• Insulin 
• Dextrose 
• Sodium bicarbonate 

On the other hand, A deficiency of potassium in the blood is called hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is the most common form of electrolyte imbalance when someone is hospitalized.

A few symptoms of hypokalemia:
• Leg cramps 
• Weakness
• Constipation
• Abnormal heart rhythm issues 

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 58, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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Thanks for watching! I hope this helps you better understand high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia).