Treatment Options For Acute Renal Failure

Controlling Potassium

One of the dangers of having the kidneys shut down is they may not have been working properly for weeks before the actual initial finding and diagnosis by a medical professional. As a result, the kidneys may not be filtering potassium correctly. Potassium is an essential electrolyte for any healthy body, but too much potassium in the bloodstream can cause weakness in the muscles and dangerous irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. Since potassium has a direct connection to how the nerves send and receive messages, an individual may also experience numbness or tingling in areas throughout their body. A doctor may ask the patient to take calcium, sodium polystyrene, or glucose based medications as an attempt to counteract the high potassium levels found in the bloodstream.

Next, discover how balancing calcium levels within the bloodstream can be beneficial for patients.