Potassium Blood Test- What to do if you have High Potassium Content?Health Care NetworksUpdated on Jan 17, 2017 View more like this | Visit India, UN | Contact Lal PathLabs |
Potassium is an essential electrolyte that aids in proper functioning of the body. The mineral is particularly vital for the functioning of our nerves and muscles. While potassium is important for our body, an excess of it can also be a problem. Excess amount of potassium in the body leads to a disease called Hyperkalaemia. Therefore, to keep in check the level of this mineral content in the body, you should go for a potassium blood test at a regular interval of time to avoid any type of serious consequences. If you are a resident of Pune, get a potassium blood test done as a part of your regular health check-up in any diagnostic centre in Pune at the most reasonable rates.
What are the causes of high potassium level in the body?
The main cause is kidney failure. When the kidneys fail to perform their filtration function, they are unable to flush out the extra potassium from the body and leads to an increase in the potassium level in our body.
Another cause of high potassium content is heavy alcohol or drug use that causes breakdown of muscles. This breakdown releases high amount of potassium into the blood from the muscles.
High intake of potassium supplements or taking chemotherapy drug scan leads to high potassium level in the body.
There are certain types of health conditions can increase the level of potassium in the blood such as-
- Dehydration,
- Type 1 Diabetes,
- Addison’s Disease,
- Internal bleeding, etc.
What are the symptoms of high potassium level in the body?
Some of the major symptoms are-
- Fatigue or weakness,
- Feeling of numbness or tingling,
- Nauseaousness or frequent vomiting tendency,
- Chest pain,
- Palpitations or skipped heartbeats, etc.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors usually order potassium blood test or Potassium blood test fasting during an annual body check-up. They can also order the test if one is suffering from the above-mentioned symptoms.
Potassium blood test results- Potassium blood test normal range varies from 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) of blood. A level higher than 5 mmol/L can be life threatening.
Treatment- The treatment procedure involves medications and drugs that reduce the effect of high potassium in the heart. Doctors also prescribe Diuretics - pills that cause the patient to urinate more and helps the kidneys get rid of excess potassium. Diuretics are of three types- Loop diuretics, potassium–sparing diuretics and Thiazide diuretics. Each of the types targets different parts of the kidneys and removes the high level of potassium content from the body.
Where to get the test done?
You can now easily get done a potassium test in any diagnostic centre in Pune. It's highly reasonable and its reports can be accessed in a matter of 24 hours post the submission of sample to the lab for testing and analysis.
What are the causes of high potassium level in the body?
The main cause is kidney failure. When the kidneys fail to perform their filtration function, they are unable to flush out the extra potassium from the body and leads to an increase in the potassium level in our body.
Another cause of high potassium content is heavy alcohol or drug use that causes breakdown of muscles. This breakdown releases high amount of potassium into the blood from the muscles.
High intake of potassium supplements or taking chemotherapy drug scan leads to high potassium level in the body.
There are certain types of health conditions can increase the level of potassium in the blood such as-
- Dehydration,
- Type 1 Diabetes,
- Addison’s Disease,
- Internal bleeding, etc.
What are the symptoms of high potassium level in the body?
Some of the major symptoms are-
- Fatigue or weakness,
- Feeling of numbness or tingling,
- Nauseaousness or frequent vomiting tendency,
- Chest pain,
- Palpitations or skipped heartbeats, etc.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors usually order potassium blood test or Potassium blood test fasting during an annual body check-up. They can also order the test if one is suffering from the above-mentioned symptoms.
Potassium blood test results- Potassium blood test normal range varies from 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) of blood. A level higher than 5 mmol/L can be life threatening.
Treatment- The treatment procedure involves medications and drugs that reduce the effect of high potassium in the heart. Doctors also prescribe Diuretics - pills that cause the patient to urinate more and helps the kidneys get rid of excess potassium. Diuretics are of three types- Loop diuretics, potassium–sparing diuretics and Thiazide diuretics. Each of the types targets different parts of the kidneys and removes the high level of potassium content from the body.
Where to get the test done?
You can now easily get done a potassium test in any diagnostic centre in Pune. It's highly reasonable and its reports can be accessed in a matter of 24 hours post the submission of sample to the lab for testing and analysis.
