National High Potassium Awareness Day

NATIONAL HIGH POTASSIUM AWARENESS DAY IS 5.1.23

Join together on May 1 (5.1) each year to learn and share knowledge about HIGH POTASSIUM, also known as HYPERKALEMIA! It is important for people living with kidney disease to learn about potassium and to be aware of how much potassium they take in.

Potassium is an important mineral (K) that plays a key role in controlling the function of nerves and muscles, particularly the heart. Potassium is found in many foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. Most of the extra potassium eaten in the diet is removed by the kidneys. When kidney function decreases to a certain level, the body cannot get rid of as much extra potassium. If potassium levels become too high (for example, if too much potassium is taken in and kidney function is not good enough to remove the extra potassium, or if potassium levels rise due to certain medications), then serious and potentially life-threatening side effects could occur. The SAFE range for your blood potassium level is considered to be under 5.1 (3.5 -5.0 mEq/L).

WHAT: National High Potassium Awareness Day

WHEN: Save the date! National High Potassium Awareness Day on Monday, May 1, 2023. (Why May 1?  5.1 mEg/L. is the blood potassium level to be under in order to be in the SAFE range.)

WHY: To educate and share knowledge about high potassium (hyperkalemia) and kidney disease.

WHO: National High Potassium Awareness Day is a program of the American Association of Kidney Patients (www.AAKP.org).

WHERE/HOW: There are LOTS of ways you can join in - read below four easy ways you can get involved. 

Countdown to 5.1.23 with us:

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Here are four easy ways TO STAY involved

 

LEARN & SHARE High Potassium Educational Resources

 

Follow us on social media

Follow us on social media! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @areyouok5point1.

Share our posts with your social media followers. Use the hashtag: #areyouok5point1.

 

SEND A PROCLAMATION LETTER

In 2022, AAKP was successful in getting proclamations in Florida and Texas. For information on supporting proclamations for our 2023 campaign, click the green button to email us.

Kidney Patients Share Their High Potassium StorIES

Click below to visit our blog articles to read about fellow patients and how they have dealt with high potassium in their kidney journey.

NEW RELEASE - AAKP Delicious! 6th Edition Kidney-friendly recipes

Exciting news! The sixth edition of AAKP Delicious! recipes is being released as part of this year’s National High Potassium Awareness Day campaign. The 12 all new kidney-friendly recipes are FREE to download via PDF and include a video tutorial. Each recipe also includes an educational potassium check box to help you learn more about potassium in the foods that you eat.

 

For more information on potassium and kidney disease, visit the AAKP HIGH POTASSIUM EDUCATIONAL WEB PAGE.

the 2022 National High Potassium Awareness Day is proudly supported by an educational donation from: