When the discussion is around heart health in India, we mostly think of cholesterol, blood pressure, or sometimes filled arteries. However, there is a cool danger that is in a plain vision: high potassium, or hyperkelemia.

It is becoming one of the biggest concerns for cardiac experts worldwide. Some people also warns that hyperclamia soon appears to be a major cause of cardiovascular issues in healthy individuals.

Potassium, of course, is required for the electrical rhythm of your heart, but even if the level increases slightly above normal, your heartbeat can dangerly go away from the track. Mumbai -based cardiologist Dr. Anjali Mehta explains, “It is often called the electrician of the body because without enough potassium, electrical signs in the body can be a mess. It can force the heart to lose its sink in turn.” Even a small imbalance, she notes, can give rise to arrhythmia and, in severe cases, sudden arrest of the heart.

In this sudden spike in potassium, prominent contributors can be blamed on our lifestyle and diet. It is not uncommon in Indian families that bananas and potatoes are called healthy for their high potassium content and for most people, they can occur. But as Dr. “For those who detect severe kidney issues, diabetes or hypertension, these everyday foods can silence the heart,” says Mehta.

Is it usually known?

Unfortunately, we do not have much India-specific data on hyperkelemia. Globally, it affects about 1-5% of the normal population and about 1-2% of hospitalized patients. In patients such as chronic kidney disease or ACE inhibitors, the circulation rate increases significantly by 7-8% or sometimes.

A Reddit Post by students studying therapy in India recently talked about 65 -year -old MI patient with a 6.5 potassium, indicating immediate repeating testing and emergency management.

The post shows how hyperkelemia is taken seriously in Indian clinical training, even if formal studies are low.

Potassium level: safe vs. deadly

Here is the general scale:

“In an ICU case, we saw a touching patient with 5.1 Meq/L K K – completely fine. No ECG until> 5.5 Meq/L. The patient suffered a heart attack in the next half an hour,” Dr. Nimit Jain said, a retired cardiac surgeon from AIIMS in New Deli.

Dr. Jain says that the problem is that symptoms often do not pay attention, but this does not mean that they are not harmful.

“Symptoms of high potassium are usually very subtle. It involves weakness, numbness or tingling in organs, unexplained pages-

Reality check

Diabetic kidney disease in India is one of the highest rates in the world and such patients have a maximum risk of high potassium levels, which can lead to severe cardiovascular issues.

The impaired kidneys struggle to flush the extra potassium, which increases the risk rapidly. Some patients who have been advised to take other diuretics for the management of ACE inhibitors, or ARB, and their blood pressure, should also take care of potassium levels in their body. These drugs are known to increase potassium, even in people with moderate kidney issues.

Our diet, which contains bananas, leafy greens, tomatoes and potatoes, can be risky if your kidneys or medicines increase your potassium baseline.

It is a simple process to follow. If you are taking an over-the-counter potassium dose or salt option, which contains potassium chloride, inform your doctor about it. Also mention vague symptoms, even if they are light, for your doctor. If your level> 6.0 is Meq/L, or ECG shows twews at the peak, immediate treatment is necessary, “Dr. Jain has warned.

Is it cureable? Yes, a cardiologist from Hyderabad, Dr. Mihir Desai says. “Treatment for potassium depends on its severity. For patients with light levels (5.1-6.0), we only recommend them to adjust their diet and repeat the tests. People who have severe levels (6.5) have a medium to moderate levels (6.5) require IV calcium gluconate to immediately stabilize the heart.”

In addition to calcium in the intravenous, patients with high levels of potassium are also advised to transfer the potassium to the cells to insulin + glucose sulbutamol nebulizer. Sometimes, potassium-binding drugs or a kidney dialysis are also prescribed.

In India, where diabetes and kidney disease are common, high potassium is a real but low risk. The problem is that it does not scream, it only whispers. Are we listening?