Final answer:
Hyperkalemia is falsely associated with high levels of calcium in the blood; it actually signifies elevated potassium levels, which can affect the heart and nervous system, and is not related to hypercalcemia, which is high calcium levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that hyperkalemia is the condition of having higher than normal amounts of calcium in the blood is false. Hyperkalemia actually refers to an abnormally high level of potassium in the blood, not calcium. Conditions that can lead to hyperkalemia include renal failure, severe dehydration, and Addison's disease, all of which can result in decreased excretion of potassium by the kidney.
Hyperkalemia can impair the function of skeletal muscles, the nervous system, and particularly the heart, potentially causing it to "seize" and stop pumping blood. In contrast, hypercalcemia is the term used to describe increased blood levels of calcium. It is important to understand these terms correctly to avoid confusion in clinical diagnosis and treatment.