Potassium levels can be tested with a blood test or a urine test. Urine potassium can be checked in a single urine sample. But it is more often measured in a 24-hour urine sample. Your doctor will decide if a urine or blood sample is needed.
You can take a potassium test at home, either with a blood or urine sample. If using a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day. For blood tests, you often need to visit a local laboratory to have your sample collected.
A potassium blood test measures how much potassium is in your blood. The test is often part of a group of routine blood tests called an electrolyte panel. It may be used to monitor or diagnose conditions related to abnormal potassium levels.
If high potassium happens suddenly and you have very high levels, you may feel heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care. If you have these symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
A low potassium level can make muscles feel weak, cramp, twitch, or even become paralyzed, and abnormal heart rhythms may develop. The diagnosis is based on blood tests to measure the potassium level. Usually, eating foods rich in potassium or taking potassium supplements by mouth is all that is needed.
Excessive water consumption may lead to depletion of potassium, which is an essential nutrient. This may cause symptoms like leg pain, irritation, chest pain, et al.
Dangerously high potassium levels affect the heart and cause a sudden onset of life-threatening problems. Hyperkalemia symptoms include: Abdominal (belly) pain and diarrhea. Chest pain.
The leading causes of hyperkalemia are chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, dehydration, an injury causing severe bleeding, consuming excessive dietary potassium, and some medications.
Who Should Take The Potassium Blood Test? Assess normal kidney function and indicate kidney damage using a home finger-prick blood test kit. You get the convenience of home testing with the reassurance of professional clinical analysis. Your results are delivered quickly & securely online.
You may have this test to diagnose or monitor kidney disease. The most common cause of a high blood potassium level is kidney disease. Potassium is important to heart function. Your provider may order this test if you have signs of high blood pressure or heart problems.
If hyperkalemia comes on suddenly and you have very high levels of potassium, you may feel heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting. Sudden or severe hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition. It requires immediate medical care.
A potassium level that is too high or too low can be serious. Abnormal levels may cause symptoms such as muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, diarrhea, or frequent urination.
Lower potassium choices: Tea, herbal tea, squash or cordial, water, fizzy drinks. Spirits are lower in potassium than other alcoholic drinks.
Chronic kidney disease. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Diarrhea. Diuretics (water retention relievers)
One large egg contains about 63 mg of potassium. 1 Eggs are considered a low-potassium food, but check with your doctor or dietitian to find out how often you should eat them.
cup of black coffee has 116 mg of potassium3. This is considered a low potassium food. However, many people drink more than one cup of coffee each day. Three to four cups of coffee a day is considered high in potassium and could raise your potassium levels.
Difficulty staying asleep: This could be linked to potassium, Livescience reports. Studies have shown that potassium supplements may boost sleeping through the night, but good food sources are beans, leafy greens, avocados, baked potatoes, and to a lesser degree, bananas.
If you can't seem to rest enough and your energy levels are low, you may be potassium deficient, Blake said. "Every cell in your body needs the right amount of potassium to function," Blake explained. "If you are increasingly exhausted and know you are getting enough sleep, potassium might be the cause."
Magnesium administration, concomitant with potassium, assists tissue replenishment of potassium.