How to Tell When Your Potassium Level Is Off?
Potassium is important to the body. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), potassium helps maintain nerve and muscle cells. So how do you tell when your potassium levels are off? You need to look for various risk factors and symptoms. Potassium levels are checked via blood tests, according to MayoClinic.com. Two conditions are possible: hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. A low level of potassium in the blood is referred to as hypokalemia. A high level of potassium in the blood is referred to as hyperkalemia. Both and are serious conditions.
Instructions
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Identify whether or not your potassium level is too low. Only rarely is low potassium caused by consuming too little potassium in the diet. According to MayoClinic.com, the primary risk factors for low potassium include an eating disorder, chronic kidney failure and the use of laxatives. Vomiting is also a risk factor, because it can deplete the body of potassium. The use of diuretics or water pills is yet another factor, and so is diarrhea.
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Identify whether or not your potassium level is too high. According to MayoClnic.com, the most common risk factor for high potassium is some kind of kidney malfunction, such as chronic or acute kidney failure. High potassium may also be caused by consuming over the recommended dose of potassium supplements, and by excessive alcohol consumption.
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Look for symptoms of low potassium, which include feeling drained of energy and tired. Muscle cramping, abnormal heart beat and constipation are also symptoms of low potassium.
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Look for symptoms of high potassium. These may also include weakness, tiredness and an abnormal heart beat. Other symptoms of high potassium include tingling sensations, breathing trouble and paralysis, according to the UMM.
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Seek medical advice for a diagnosis of either or these conditions, since they can be life-threatening if left untreated. Doctors test for these problems as part of diagnostic blood tests. Usually, the tests will be ordered when one of the risk factors is present. According to MayoClinic.com, it is not advisable to begin taking potassium supplements without the advice of a doctor. Prescription medications may affect potassium levels, according to the UMM. MayoClinic.com indicates that if a problem with potassium levels is found, the physician will adjust prescriptions as necessary.
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