A 60-year-old Taiwanese woman with chronic conditions—including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and kidney disease—made it a daily habit to eat a banana to promote regular bowel movements. One day, she collapsed into a coma and was rushed to the hospital. Tests revealed her blood potassium level had soared to a dangerous 7.2 mEq/L. Doctors determined that severe hyperkalemia had triggered a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. Thanks to rapid medical treatment, her life was ultimately saved.
In another case, a young woman purchased a large quantity of inexpensive bananas and ate 21 bananas over three meals in a single day. Later that night, she began to feel unwell. After getting out of bed, she lost consciousness, fell, and sustained a large bump on her head. Medical evaluation revealed that she, too, was suffering from hyperkalemia.
