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Hyperkalemia

Meaning

Hyperkalemia is an electrolyte imbalance characterized by an abnormally elevated concentration of potassium ions in the blood plasma, exceeding the normal physiological range. This condition is clinically significant because high potassium levels can profoundly alter the resting membrane potential of excitable cells, most notably cardiac myocytes, leading to potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. In hormonal health, hyperkalemia can be a manifestation of adrenal insufficiency, where the deficiency of aldosterone impairs renal potassium excretion. Immediate clinical recognition and intervention are necessary to stabilize the patient’s cardiac rhythm.