Why would hypocalcemia cause bleeding disorders? Why would hyperkalemia lead to bradycardia?

More than a dozen different intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to blood clotting. One of the most important factors is calcium ions; without calcium ions, blood does not clot. Blood in blood banks is stored with potassium oxalate, which converts available calcium ions to calcium oxalate and maintains blood volume. Potassium ions are necessary for normal heart relaxation; if too much potassium ions are present in blood, the heart does not contract normally, resulting in a temporary enlargement of the heart known medically as bradicardia.

Hypocalcemia can cause bleeding disorders because calcium plays a crucial role in the coagulation cascade, and its deficiency can impair platelet function and clot formation. Hyperkalemia can lead to bradycardia because elevated potassium levels can disrupt the normal electrical activity of the heart, specifically by reducing the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial node, resulting in a slower heart rate.