How does hyperkalemia affect the nervous system?

How does hyperkalemia affect the nervous system?

Potassium plays a role in your nerve impulses, metabolism, and blood pressure. Hyperkalemia occurs when your body can’t filter out extra potassium that it doesn’t need. Extra potassium interferes with your nerve and muscle cells. This can lead to complications in your heart and other areas of your body.

What is the effect of hyperkalemia and hypokalemia on nerve impulse?

Hypokalemia increases the resting potential (i.e., makes it more negative) and hyperpolarizes the cell, whereas hyperkalemia decreases the resting potential (i.e., makes it less negative) and initially makes the cell hyperexcitable (Fig. 5-2).

What effect does potassium have on neurons?

Within the central nervous system, neurons and astrocytes are both affected by shifts in the extracellular concentration of potassium. Elevated potassium can lead to a redistribution of other ions (e.g., calcium, sodium, chloride, hydrogen, etc.) within the cellular compartment of the brain.

Can hyperkalemia cause neuropathy?

Hyperkalemia is associated with an increased risk of death and this is explicable only in part by hyperkalemia-induced cardiac arrhythmia. In addition to its well-established effects on cardiac excitability, hyperkalemia may also contribute to peripheral neuropathy and cause renal tubular acidosis.

What is the prognosis of hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia is associated with an increased risk of death, and this is only in part explicable by hyperkalemia-induced cardiac arrhythmia. In addition to its well-established effects on cardiac excitability, hyperkalemia could also contribute to peripheral neuropathy and cause renal tubular acidosis.

What does hyperkalemia mean in medical terms?

Hyperkalemia: Causes, Effects on the Heart, Pathophysiology, Treatment, with Animation. Hyperkalemia is defined as a serum potassium concentration HIGHER than 5mmol/L. Hyperkalemia may result from decreased excretion, excessive intake, or shift of potassium from INSIDE the cells to EXTRA-cellular space.

How does hyperkalemia affect impulse conduction?

As this value becomes less negative in hyperkalemia, the number of available sodium channels DEcreases, resulting in a SLOWER influx of sodium and subsequently SLOWER impulse conduction.

How do you treat hyperkalemia without conduction problems?

– Insulin is administered to stimulate the sodium/potassium pump, promoting INTRA-cellular shift of potassium. – Hemodialysis is performed to remove potassium from the body. Longer term treatment for hyperkalemia without conduction problems consists of reducing intake and increasing excretion.