High Potassium levels

[andsoitgoes]

Just had a physical and got a general blood test done. Potassium levels came up very high and doctor said this was a problem. It could potentially lead to an irregular heartbeat. He suspected it could be from an inflamed, enlarged kidney but didn't think so. Instead, he said their were probably two factors responsible: really high potasium intake from eating bananas taking a daily multi-vitamin and drinking cytomax while I ride, and, mostly, working out so hard on a regular basis while I train and race. Something to do with constantly tearing and rehealing the muscles.
Just wondering: does anyone else here know if they also have high potassium levels in their blood? If my doctor is correct about the probable causes wouldn't that mean that a huge percentage of arobic athletes face the same risk? Just curious. Your response is appreciated.

 

[sogood]

How high? The most likely reason for high K in blood tests is one of old blood specimen (long delay b/n collection and analysis) or cell damage during blood collection (too fine a needle with excessive aspiration and other technical issues). If the creatinine and urea are normal, the high K is most likely to be meaningless.

 

[andsoitgoes]

How high? The most likely reason for high K in blood tests is one of old blood specimen (long delay b/n collection and analysis) or cell damage during blood collection (too fine a needle with excessive aspiration and other technical issues). If the creatinine and urea are normal, the high K is most likely to be meaningless.

thanks for the response. potassium level was at 5.4. initially they suspected a bad test so they ran another and the same result came up. what does working out have to do with my potassium levels anyway? thanks...

 

[andsoitgoes]

any other thoughts? is anyone a nutritionist or sports medicine person around here?

 

[Albert 50]

Try placing this thread in the 'Health Nutrition and Supplements.'

 

[matagi]

I'd be taking another potassium level if I were your doc. An isolated elevated potassium is meaningless. (especially if your urea and creatinine are normal)

BTW, 5.4 is not "very high", it is slightly elevated (the upper limit of normal is 5.0).

Did you train particularly hard before the blood was taken? Muscle damage could explain the increase. As for potassium intake, you would need to calculate how much potassium is in your Cytomax drinks based on how you make them up and how much is in the multivitamins - it would need to be pretty high intake to put your potassium levels up.

 

[Diana Rogers]

Absolutely....I have an ICD, am in great health (other than a low EF factor, which is heriditary), and my recent BMP went from 4.57 a month later to 5.4. I eat a lot of fresh, homegrown tomatoes, cantelope, and bananas from the market, which COULD be the reason for the spike; however, after reading the comments ("old blood"), I'll give it another month without eating the above (yikes!), and then retest to see if there is a change.
d

 

[supersix 105]

?

 

[JesseHunter]

Another thing to consider, For me personally anyways...

I try not to consume very much sodium. The problem is lately I find myself eating Creole seasoning (without salt) on a lot of my foods. I noticed that this seasoning is almost all potassium, as are all "salt less" imitators I presume. I guess this is something I should keep a close eye on?

 

[alienator]

Another thing to consider, For me personally anyways...
I try not to consume very much sodium. The problem is lately I find myself eating Creole seasoning (without salt) on a lot of my foods. I noticed that this seasoning is almost all potassium, as are all "salt less" imitators I presume. I guess this is something I should keep a close eye on?

You actually think some anonymous person is going to have a better answer than your doctor?

 

[JesseHunter]

Originally Posted by alienator .


You actually think some anonymous person is going to have a better answer than your doctor.

I wasn't really thinking about it like that. I don't have a doctor "per say". If something serious arises I would find a specialist I suppose, Other than that I just kind of live life on the natural. I was mainly just asking opinion from someone else who may eat a lot of salt substitute out of curiosity, that's all.

 

[limerickman]

Originally Posted by JesseHunter .

Another thing to consider, For me personally anyways...

I try not to consume very much sodium. The problem is lately I find myself eating Creole seasoning (without salt) on a lot of my foods. I noticed that this seasoning is almost all potassium, as are all "salt less" imitators I presume. I guess this is something I should keep a close eye on?

Potassium is the antidote to sodium, if I remember correctly my secondary school chemistry course?

For high blood pressure, it is suggested that one should reduce salt intake and increase potassium intake.

 

[brazza2000]

My potassium also came in high in my last blood work done this past week. My doctor thinks it may be related to my last triathlon done couple days before the blood work. I have been training intensively lately and my leg muscles have been pushed to the limit....So, my point is that you are not alone. High potassium levels have happened to me twice over the past 3 years. To be sure it is not something abnormal related to kidney failure, my doctor asked me to come back in 3 weeks during recovery time to do another blood work. I expect potassium levels to go down by then. We will see.

 

[JSWin]

Really? Probably the cytomax and multi-vitamin would through off the levels more than the bananas. You'd need to eat 400 bananas in one sitting for it to harm you in anyway. I'm willing to bet it is the cytomax. It is 60 mg of potassium per serving. It is artificially derived with potassium citrate, mono potassium phosphate, and potassium succinate. Its not absorbing and it is lingering in the blood. Either one of the vitamins is out of balance or the artificial is not properly absorbable. Personally I would kick the supplements and try to balance the diet. Balancing supplements is actually harder than just eating. If you have too much of one vitamin you can create deficiencies or overloads of vitamins.