Potassium Chloride & Heart Attacks

Potassium chloride is a salt that contains chlorine and potassium, a major ion of the body. Small changes in potassium levels can have far-reaching effects on the heart and neuromuscular system.

Indications

• Potassium chloride is used in the treatment or prevention of hypokalemia (low blood potassium levels). Hypokalemia can be due to a disease, certain medications, an inadequate diet or prolonged diarrhea and/or vomiting.

Function

• Potassium's essential roles include nerve conduction (communication) between the brain and muscles; muscle contraction; maintenance of normal kidney function; water balance between cells and body fluids; carbohydrate metabolism; gastric secretion; and normal heart function.

Values

• According to Medscape, the reference range for blood potassium level is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L (milli-equivalents per liter), with total body potassium content of approximately 50 mEq/kg. Alsdosterone is the main hormone that controls potassium levels in the body.

Heart Attack

• Also called "myocardial infarction," a heart attack refers to the death (or permanent damage) of heart muscle due to a lack of oxygen. It usually occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked.

Hypokalemia

• The cardiovascular effects of hypokalemia (low blood potassium) include: palpitations, hypotension (low blood pressure), heart rhythm disturbances, cardiac arrest, hypoventilation, respiratory distress and respiratory failure.

Potassium Chloride Toxicity

• Excessive potassium levels (hyperkalemia) can have serious consequences on the heart, including: hypoventilation, cardiac arrhythmias (heart rhythm disturbances), heart attack, or even cardiac arrest.