What is normal serum potassium level?
Normal serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L; however, plasma potassium is 0.5 mEq/L lower. While total body potassium is lower in females and in older patients, serum potassium concentration is independent of sex and age.
What happens when serum potassium is low?
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.
What does it mean if serum potassium is high?
If you have high potassium levels, your heart muscle activity may be reduced. Both situations are serious and can be life threatening. You may also have a potassium test if you have diabetes and your doctor thinks you may have diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication caused by a lack of insulin in the body.
What causes low potassium?
Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause is excessive potassium loss in urine due to prescription medications that increase urination. Also known as water pills or diuretics, these types of medications are often prescribed for people who have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Is low potassium serious?
It is critical to the proper functioning of nerve and muscles cells, particularly heart muscle cells. 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.
How do you fix low potassium?
For people with mild hypokalemia, a doctor may recommend:
- stopping or reducing the dosages of any medicines that can cause low potassium.
- taking daily potassium supplements.
- eating more foods rich in potassium, such as fruits and vegetables.
Does high potassium mean kidney disease?
In the early stages of kidney disease, the kidneys can often make up for high potassium. But as kidney function gets worse, they may not be able to remove enough potassium from your body. Advanced kidney disease is a common cause of hyperkalemia.
How do you treat low potassium?
taking daily potassium supplements. eating more foods rich in potassium, such as fruits and vegetables. taking medications that can increase potassium levels in the body, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers.
What are the side effects of high potassium?
It can cause:
- Muscle fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Paralysis.
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
- Nausea.
How do I bring my potassium level down?
Dietary changes
- root vegetables, such as beets and beet greens, taro, parsnips, and potatoes, yams, and sweet potatoes (unless they’re boiled)
- bananas and plantains.
- spinach.
- avocado.
- prunes and prune juice.
- raisins.
- dates.
- sun-dried or pureed tomatoes, or tomato paste.
What is the treatment for high potassium levels?
Emergency treatment may include: Calcium given into your veins (IV) to treat the muscle and heart effects of high potassium levels. Glucose and insulin given into your veins (IV) to help lower potassium levels long enough to correct the cause. Kidney dialysis if your kidney function is poor.