What is potassium serum?
What is potassium serum?
Because most people don’t have symptoms, you might not know you have high potassium until you get a routine blood test. A serum potassium test measures potassium levels in blood. Your healthcare provider may also order an electrocardiogram (EKG). This test shows changes in heart rhythm caused by hyperkalemia.
Why is serum potassium important?
Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral. It helps keep the water (the amount of fluid inside and outside the body’s cells) and electrolyte balance of the body. Potassium is also important in how nerves and muscles work.
What does high serum potassium mean?
When you have kidney disease, your kidneys cannot remove extra potassium in the right way, and too much potassium can stay in your blood. When you have too much potassium in your blood, it is called high potassium, or hyperkalemia. Having too much potassium in your blood can be dangerous.
What happens when serum potassium is low?
A large drop in potassium level may lead to abnormal heart rhythms, especially in people with heart disease. This can cause you to feel lightheaded or faint. A very low potassium level can even cause your heart to stop.
What causes low potassium levels?
A low potassium level has many causes but usually results from vomiting, diarrhea, adrenal gland disorders, or use of diuretics. A low potassium level can make muscles feel weak, cramp, twitch, or even become paralyzed, and abnormal heart rhythms may develop.
How can I check my potassium level at home?
A urine test can be done using a single urine sample or urine collected over 24 hours. A single urine sample may be taken at a health professional’s office or at home. A 24-hour sample is done at home.
What causes too much potassium in the blood?
The leading causes of hyperkalemia are chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, dehydration, having had severe bleeding, consuming excessive dietary potassium, and some medications. A doctor will typically diagnose hyperkalemia when levels of potassium are between 5.0–5.5 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/l).
Is low potassium serious?
Normally, your blood potassium level is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mmol/L ) can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention.
What happens when low potassium is untreated?
Low potassium increases urinary calcium excretion, a risk factor for developing kidney stones. Excess urinary calcium due to low potassium levels also decreases bone mineral density, which elevates the risk of developing osteoporosis. If left untreated, hypokalemia can cause permanent kidney damage.