Final answer:
Hyperkalemia, characterized by an elevated potassium level above 5.0 mEq/L, can lead to severe cardiac abnormalities, affect EKG patterns, and cause potential fatality if not corrected. Potassium has essential roles in heart action potentials, and high levels or drugs affecting potassium channels can cause harmful changes in heart rhythm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Elevated Potassium on Electrocardiogram (EKG) Changes
Hyperkalemia is defined as an elevated potassium blood level, which can exceed 5.0 mEq/L. Such high levels of potassium in the blood can significantly impact the heart and other systems. When potassium is high, it can cause partial depolarization in the heart, leading to EKG changes. These changes include peaked T waves, prolonged PR interval, widened QRS complexes, and can progress to cardiac arrest if not swiftly corrected. Hyperkalemia can result from an excessive dietary intake of potassium, leading to its harmful accumulation in the extracellular fluid (ECF).
Influence on the Action Potential: Potassium is critical in the repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. Therefore, medications like potassium channel blockers can affect the action potential by impeding the movement of K+ through voltage-gated K+ channels, prolonging the repolarization and thus affecting the EKG.
Factors Affecting Heart Rhythm: A high concentration of potassium ions can result in weakened heart contractions and fatal arrhythmias. Other factors like sodium levels, body temperature, oxygen levels, pH balance, and drugs like calcium channel blockers also have crucial influences on heart rhythm.