Hyperkalemia

What is hyperkalemia? Hyperkalemia is a condition in which you have excess potassium (k+) in your bloodstream.

 Potassium affects both muscle movements and electrical impulses, an excess can cause an irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, your heartbeat may become slower and your heart may begin to fibrillate --- to twitch without pumping blood. 

In an emergency situation, doctors may use calcium to stimulate cardiac contractions and bring your heart muscle function back to normal. 

Calcium, however, may irritate or damage the veins around your heart. 

Doctors usually choose calcium gluconate because it is the most mild form of calcium and is less likely to cause vascular damage. 

In an acute situation, however, doctors may choose calcium chloride--a more potent form of calcium--despite potential damage to your veins.