Pottasium levels

[bridget54]

Hi everyone. This is just a query to see if anyone out there knows if this affects AF. This week I had a routine blood test ( an annual check ) which showed I had an increase in my Potassium levels. On reading a bit about this I have found it affects heart rate and rhythm . Is this true? Anyone else have this problem?

[Jason1971]

I've not seen or heard anything regarding increased levels causing issues Bridget. I've read plenty about Potassium and Magnesium deficiencies being related to possible AF episodes. Magnesium depletion can lead to potassium depletion and according to several articles I have read in the past potassium is essential for normal nerve and muscle function and is very important in maintaining normal cardiac function (I'm not wanting to start a potassium supplement craze here).

The extract below I found in one article, which is quite interesting.....

Potassium helps prevent A-Fib by prolonging the refractory period—the time when the heart is resting between beats. (During this rest period the heart can’t be stimulated to contract, thus leaving the heart in normal sinus rhythm.) When potassium levels are too low, heart cells become unusually excitable, often leading to premature contractions and/or AF.

I guess the whole magnesium, potassium and electrolyte debate is simply just getting the balance right.

[bridget54 in reply to Jason1971]

Hi thanks for your reply Jason. Perhaps its not so bad then. Ill just have to reduce a few foods in my diet ie bananas and sweet potatoes that contain high potassium. This whole balance thing is complicated.

[Jason1971 in reply to bridget54]

I'd just give your GP a call Bridget and discuss it with them before adjusting anything. The only reason I take an interest it the whole electrolyte thing is my AF is usually triggered by dehydration and that is usually because I have a lack of certain vitamins and minerals (and fluid 😀). You're right about trying to get the balance right, it's a real pain.

[Dave1961]

SInce magnesium worked so well for me I have been a keen supplement person and I looked at potassium as I did not want to get out of balance by taking so much magnesium BUT what I found out was that the beta blockers I am on (Metoprolol, same family as Bisprolol) can increase potassium in the body so if you are using a beta blocker or ACE inhibitor this maybe the cause?

Some info for you:

umm.edu/health/medical/altm...

[bridget54 in reply to Dave1961]

Not any longer Dave. Ive been on Flecainide for 4 years. Read somewhere though ages ago that it can have an affect on the kidneys!!!??? Not sure about that though

[meadfoot]

All I know is that whenever I have AF episodes the hospital says my potassium levels are low at that time.

[bridget54 in reply to meadfoot]

Oh Im confused with all this stuff. The only thing that different with me is Im now doing the Slimming World diet hence a change of things I eat. Not sure whether its related or not

[pennytupence in reply to bridget54]

Hi, I was told to much potassium can cause AF but also to little can also cause it too.When my potassium was low I was told by the cardiologist to eat bananas,I told him I ate two a day he just said eat three.😕

[bridget54 in reply to pennytupence]

Thanks Penny much the same as I was told except Ive got to stop eating bananas and other foods high in potassium ie sweet potatoes tomato sauces( like passata ), too much fish! Greens!

I dont know if that will all happen but Ill try cut out a bit. Spoke to GP yesterday and thats what I was told.

[AnticoagulateNow]

Can you recall if the blood you had taken for the test was drawn without any difficulty Bridget? This may not apply in your case but we know that phlebotomists sometimes have trouble locating a vein after the needle has gone in. Potassium surges very rapidly towards areas of trauma with the result that a difficult blood-take can result in disproportionately high levels of the chemical within that sample. Another, trauma-free test some days later, will show normal levels.

Now there's a little known fact!

[bridget54 in reply to AnticoagulateNow]

Yes they always struggle to find a vein because I can only have blood taken from one arm due to having lymph nodes removed from the other. Think Ive had to have so much blood taken over the years that my poor little vein is giving up the ghost!! But interesting. Thank you

[AnticoagulateNow in reply to bridget54]

I'm sure your doctor will get to the bottom of it and will arrange for another test to confirm readings.

[Rellim296 in reply to AnticoagulateNow]

I think you should maybe make sure that you get another test, Bridget, though perhaps it's not an urgent thing.

If there are two things I've learnt from this forum (and there are many, many more than that) they are a) that doctors don't know everything and b) that you sometimes have to be a bit pushy to get what you need.

Thanks, ACN, for the interesting facts about potassium and phlebotomy!

[bridget54 in reply to Rellim296]

Hi Rellim. I think perhaps youre right. I will do that . My own GP is pretty reasonable so Ill speak to her because it was a nurse that told me my levels were a little high. Thanx

[Rellim296 in reply to bridget54]

It's not a bad idea to ask if something is a matter of concern, is what you've been told actually something worth worrying about and is there anything you could or should do about it.

I'd be inclined to print out ACN's enlightening comment and give it to your GP. I'm certainly absorbing it for reference!

[bridget54 in reply to Rellim296]

Good idea

[cassie46 in reply to bridget54]

Bridget I too have probs with taking blood and intrvenous medication - had breast surgery last year and lymph nodes removed - s- all are taken on my left arm and blood pressure also. I was in hospital with a AF attack a few weeks ago and one of the hospital senior blood ladies told me that they do take blood from other arm but no drugs to be given into arm. She said it was more the drugs going in, she worked in chemo an has a lot of patients in this situation. Also while I was in their - have permant AF and mainly no symptoms (normally know when things are going haywire I get really badfluid and realy bad breathing problems and my hr is very high and erractic. I was in for five days this time and they started giving me potassium tablets - can chew or put in water, they fiss up - not been given this before (by the way they are disgusting - gulp in one go).

[bridget54 in reply to cassie46]

Thanks Cassie. Its hard when youre battling more than one thing isnt it? Hope youre feeling better now x

[BobD Volunteer]

Thanks ACN I never knew that. As Michael Caine would say "there's not many people know that"------, but there are now!

[CDreamer]

Electrolyte balance is incredibly complicated and is still not completely understood by researchers.

ACN - thank you for that, I didn't know that! (Looking at you sideways)

The only thing I know is that potassium can go high if there is a kidney malfunction but your GP would have discussed this with you if there was concern as there are proteins in the blood which would also indicate this.

We have doctors to help us sort all this stuff because they are trained and we aren't so may I suggest that you let the doctor worry about what is wrong , if anything, and you continue eating normally and stop worrying.

[Mike11]

Low electrolyte levels are something to worry about AF wise, high ones just need to be checked and dealt with if they remain high to keep the kidneys and liver healthy.