Potassium is a chemical (electrolyte) that is critical to the proper functioning of nerve and muscles cells, particularly heart muscle cells.
Hyperkalemia is the medical term that describes a potassium level in your blood that's higher than normal. Potassium is a nutrient that is critical to the function of nerve and muscle cells, including those in your heart. Potassium is a mineral (electrolyte) in the body. Almost 98% of potassium is found inside the cells. Small changes in the level of potassium that is present outside the cells can have severe effects on the heart, nerves, and muscles. Low potassium (hypokalemia) refers to a lower than normal potassium level in your bloodstream. Potassium is a chemical (electrolyte) that is critical to the proper functioning of nerve and muscles cells, particularly heart muscle cells. Normally, your blood potassium level is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Potassium. Electrolytes such as such as potassium are essential for water balance, blood pressure, pH balance, heart function and muscle contraction. About 98 percent of the potassium in your body is found inside your cells, where it works with sodium outside your cells. If you have hyperkalemia, you have too much potassium in your blood. The body needs a delicate balance of potassium to help the heart and other muscles work properly. But too much potassium in your blood can lead to dangerous, and possibly deadly, changes in heart rhythm. A potassium test checks how much potassium is in the blood. Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral. It helps keep the water (the amount of fluid inside and outside the body's cells) and electrolyte balance of the body. Potassium is also important in how nerves and muscles work. Causes of Hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia -- high potassium in your blood -- may occur if your kidneys do not work properly and cannot remove potassium from your body or if your body's cells release too much potassium. Kidney disease is the most common cause of hyperkalemia. Your kidneys help control the balance of potassium in your body.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/hyperkalemia/basics/definition/SYM-20050776 http://www.emedicinehealth.com/low_potassium/article_em.htm http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/low-potassium/basics/definition/SYM-20050632 http://woman.thenest.com/low-potassium-mean-3674.html http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hyperkalemia-causes-symptoms-treatments http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/potassium-k-in-blood http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hyperkalemia-causes-symptoms-treatments
what does potassium mean