What is the main cause of high potassium?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 09, 2026
The leading causes of hyperkalemia are chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, dehydration, an injury causing severe bleeding, consuming excessive dietary potassium, and some medications.
What happens if your potassium is high?
Having too much potassium in your blood can be dangerous. Potassium affects the way your heart's muscles work. When you have too much potassium, your heart may beat irregularly, which in the worst cases can cause heart attack. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 for emergency help.
How can I lower my potassium level quickly?
Taking water pills or potassium binders, as directed by your healthcare provider. Some people may also need medicine to help remove extra potassium from the body and keep it from coming back. This may include: Water pills (diuretics) help rid your body of extra potassium.
What drugs can cause high potassium levels?
Which medications can raise potassium levels?
- ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers). ...
- ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors. ...
- Spironolactone. ...
- NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). ...
- Cyclosporine and tacrolimus. ...
- Heparin. ...
- Propranolol and labetalol.
How do you treat high potassium?
Treatment
- Calcium given into your veins (IV) to treat the muscle and heart effects of high potassium levels.
- Glucose and insulin given into your veins (IV) to help lower potassium levels long enough to correct the cause.
- Kidney dialysis if your kidney function is poor.
Can drinking a lot of water lower potassium?
Excessive water consumption may lead to depletion of potassium, which is an essential nutrient. This may cause symptoms like leg pain, irritation, chest pain, et al. 6. It may also cause too much urination; when you drink lots of water at once, you tend to urinate frequently.
Is eggs high in potassium?
One large egg contains about 63 mg of potassium. 1 Eggs are considered a low-potassium food, but check with your doctor or dietitian to find out how often you should eat them.
What are the top 10 foods high in potassium?
Below is a list of 10 high-potassium foods:
- Bok choy, 1 cup cooked (630 mg)
- Potato, medium (610 mg)
- White beans, 1/2 cup (600 mg)
- Beets, 1 cup (520 mg)
- Brussels sprouts, 1 cup cooked (500 mg)
- Broccoli, 1 cup cooked (460 mg)
- Cantaloupe, 1 cup (430 mg)
- Banana, 1 medium (420 mg)
What drink is high in potassium?
Drinking fruit and vegetable juices is another easy way to increase your potassium intake. Citrus juices seem to provide the most potassium ( 3 ). For example, 1 cup (240 mL) of 100% orange juice offers about 10% of the DV for potassium, while the same serving of grapefruit juice provides 9% of the DV ( 30 , 31 ).
Is coffee high in potassium?
cup of black coffee has 116 mg of potassium3. This is considered a low potassium food. However, many people drink more than one cup of coffee each day. Three to four cups of coffee a day is considered high in potassium and could raise your potassium levels.
Does cheese have a lot of potassium?
Dairy and dairy products are also known to be a source of potassium. While not considered a high potassium food, the potassium in cheese should absolutely be made aware. On average, one ounce of cheese will provide about 35 milligrams of potassium.
Is garlic high in potassium?
How much potassium is in garlic? Three cloves of garlic contain around 36.1 mg of potassium. Because of that, garlic is a safe food and spice to add to your diet. It's not only low in potassium, thus safe for people with kidney issues and potassium sensitivity, but also low in calories and fat.
How can I test my potassium levels at home?
There are limited or no options for at-home kits to test potassium levels. If you are prescribed a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day, including at home.
Can dehydration cause high potassium?
The body becomes dehydrated when it loses more fluids than it consumes. When the body doesn't have enough fluids, it can't process potassium properly, and potassium builds up in the blood, which can lead to hyperkalemia. Symptoms of dehydration include excessive thirst, less frequent urination, and darker urine.
Is Onion high in potassium?
Onions: Another great way to add flavor to any food, onions have health benefits, too. They are low in potassium and rich in flavonoids–a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce heart disease and protect against cancer.
Are tomatoes high in potassium?
Fresh tomatoes contain a decent amount of potassium (one medium tomato has 292 mg, per USDA data), and you'll get even more bang for your buck from more concentrated forms of tomatoes, such as tomato paste (162 mg per tablespoon) or tomato sauce (728 mg per cup).
Are lemons a good source of potassium?
Lemons are very rich in vitamin C. In addition, they're a decent source of potassium and vitamin B6.
Is chicken high in potassium?
Most meats add some potassium to your meals. Chicken breast has the most per 3-ounce serving with 332 milligrams, but beef and turkey breast contain 315 and 212 milligrams, respectively.
What is the highest potassium food?
Many fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium: Bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit (some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and dates, are also high in potassium) Cooked spinach.
...
Beans or legumes that are high in potassium include:
- Lima beans.
- Pinto beans.
- Kidney beans.
- Soybeans.
- Lentils.
Is ice cream high in potassium?
Milk, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, soy milk and cream soups are high in potassium.
Is green tea high in potassium?
A cup of green tea supplies only 17 milligrams of potassium, making it a lower potassium choice than black tea. Drinking green tea may help support kidney health in general.
Is milk high in potassium?
Dairy products like milk and milk-based yogurts are high in potassium, and the lower the fat content, the higher the potassium level. For example, skim milk contains 381 mg per cup, while 1% milk contains 366 mg.
Does Vitamin D milk have potassium?
2% Milk – 8 g protein, 9% RDA potassium, 29% RDA calcium, 9% RDA of Vitamin A, and 29% RDA of Vitamin D. Nonfat Milk – 8 g protein, 10% RDA potassium, 29% RDA calcium, 10% RDA of Vitamin A, and 25% RDA of Vitamin D.
Is Ginger high in potassium?
As mentioned, ginger is not a high source of potassium, phosphorus, or sodium. If you need to follow a low potassium diet, this article may be helpful. Fresh and dried/ground ginger can be included in the diet. Dried ginger has the most antioxidant value.