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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- American Heart Association; Bradycardia; January 19, 2011
- National Center for Biotechnology Information; Hyperkalemia; November 15, 2009
- National Center for Biotechnology Information; Hyperkalemia; November 15, 2009
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High or Low Potassium Levels & Bradycardia
Although most of the potassium in your body is located inside your cells, approximately 5 percent of the potassium is located in fluid outside your cells, including your blood. In a healthy individual, this blood potassium level ranges from 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. If the amount of potassium in your blood exceeds 4.8 mEq/L, it can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm, called bradycardia.
Bradycardia
A normal adult heartbeat ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Bradycardia is a slower-than-normal heartbeat characterized by less than 60 beats per minute. When the heart pumps slower than normal, it does not pump enough blood to meet the needs of your body. As a result, your tissues become starved of oxygen and you may experience weakness, fatigue, dizziness, chest pains, shortness of breath, confusion and memory problems.
- A normal adult heartbeat ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
- Bradycardia is a slower-than-normal heartbeat characterized by less than 60 beats per minute.
Complications
Potassium Deficiency and the Heart
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MayoClinic.com notes that if bradycardia is severe enough to cause physical symptoms, it also has a high potential to cause serious side effects. Someone with bradycardia may experience fainting spells and eventually develop heart failure. Bradycardia may trigger a sudden heart attack and even cause death 1. If you experience any of the symptoms of bradycardia, it is important to seek proper medical treatment immediately.
- MayoClinic.com notes that if bradycardia is severe enough to cause physical symptoms, it also has a high potential to cause serious side effects.
Treatment
In many cases, correcting potassium levels can treat bradycardia caused by high potassium levels. Treatment may consist of diuretic medications, which trigger your body to release sodium, potassium and water, and intravenous administration of calcium, glucose and insulin, which helps restore mineral balance in the blood. Dialysis may be necessary for those with severe hyperkalemia or for those whose kidneys are not working properly and cannot remove potassium on their own. If treatment for hyperkalemia does not restore normal heartbeat, you may need a pacemaker. A pacemaker is a battery-operated, surgically-inserted medical device that sends electrical signals to your heart to control normal heart rhythm.
- In many cases, correcting potassium levels can treat bradycardia caused by high potassium levels.
- Treatment may consist of diuretic medications, which trigger your body to release sodium, potassium and water, and intravenous administration of calcium, glucose and insulin, which helps restore mineral balance in the blood.
Considerations
What Do Low Sodium Levels Mean?
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Low potassium levels, or blood potassium below 3.6 mEq/L, can lead to an abnormally fast heart rhythm called tachycardia. Tachycardia is characterized by a heart rhythm of more than 100 beats per minute. When the heart pumps too fast, it does not allow ample time for the heart chambers to fill up with enough blood to meet your body’s needs. As with bradycardia, tachycardia causes your body tissues to become starved of oxygen.
- Low potassium levels, or blood potassium below 3.6 mEq/L, can lead to an abnormally fast heart rhythm called tachycardia.
- As with bradycardia, tachycardia causes your body tissues to become starved of oxygen.
Related Articles
References
- American Heart Association; Bradycardia; January 19, 2011
- Mitchell LB. Overview of arrhythmias. Merck Manual. Updated July 2019.
- American Heart Association. Bradycardia: slow heart rate. Reviewed September 30, 2016
- Cleveland Clinic. Bradycardia. Reviewed May 7, 2018
- Cedars-Sinai. Sinus bradycardia.
- Jensen PN, Gronroos NN, Chen LY, et al. Incidence of and risk factors for sick sinus syndrome in the general population. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(6):531. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.03.056
- Dharod A, Soliman EZ, Dawood F, et al. Association of asymptomatic bradycardia with incident cardiovascular disease and mortality: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA). JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(2):219-227. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.7655
- Mitchell LB. Atrioventricular block. Merck Manual. Updated July 2019.
- Fogoros RN, Mandrola JM. The electrophysiology study in the evaluation of bradycardia: The SA Node, AV Node, and His–Purkinje System. In: Fogoros RN. Electrophysiologic Testing. 5th edition. Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2012.
- Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, et al. 2012 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused update incorporated into the ACCF/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61:e6-e75. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.11.007
- Cedars-Sinai. Bradycardia,
- Cleveland Clinic. Bradycardia. Updated May 7, 2018.
Writer Bio
Lindsay Boyers has a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from Framingham State College and a certificate in holistic nutrition from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. She is also a licensed aesthetician with advanced training in skincare and makeup. She plans to continue on with her education, complete a master's degree program in nutrition and, ultimately, become a registered dietitian.