High potassium, or hyperkalemia, is primarily caused by problems with the kidneys, which are responsible for removing excess potassium from the blood. When the kidneys are impaired due to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or other kidney dysfunction, they cannot effectively excrete potassium, leading to its buildup in the blood
. Other causes include:
- Medications that interfere with potassium excretion, such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which are commonly used for blood pressure and kidney protection but can raise potassium levels
- Excessive potassium intake , particularly in people with kidney disease, from foods high in potassium (e.g., bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach) or potassium-containing salt substitutes and supplements
- Cellular damage releasing potassium into the bloodstream, such as from muscle injury (rhabdomyolysis), burns, severe trauma, hemolysis, or tumor lysis syndrome
- Hormonal disorders like Addison’s disease, which reduce the kidneys' ability to remove potassium
- Other medical conditions including heart failure, HIV, or metabolic acidosis that affect potassium balance
In summary, high potassium is mainly caused by kidney dysfunction, certain medications, increased potassium intake, and conditions that cause potassium to shift from cells into the bloodstream
