What causes high potassium in blood test?
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).
What level of high potassium is dangerous?
Your blood potassium level is normally 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Having a blood potassium level higher than 6.0 mmol/L can be dangerous and usually requires immediate treatment.
What are signs that your potassium is high?
What are the symptoms of hyperkalemia (high potassium)?
- Abdominal (belly) pain and diarrhea.
- Chest pain.
- Heart palpitations or arrhythmia (irregular, fast or fluttering heartbeat).
- Muscle weakness or numbness in limbs.
- Nausea and vomiting.
What food is highest in potassium?
Bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit (some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and dates, are also high in potassium) Cooked spinach. Cooked broccoli. Potatoes….Beans or legumes that are high in potassium include:
- Lima beans.
- Pinto beans.
- Kidney beans.
- Soybeans.
- Lentils.
What does a high potassium in a blood test indicate?
The potassium test may be used to help diagnose and/or monitor kidney disease, the most common cause of high blood potassium. It may also be used to evaluate for abnormal values when someone has diarrhea and vomiting, excessive sweating, or with a variety of symptoms. Blood potassium can be abnormal in many diseases.
What causes high potassium levels in your blood?
A high level of potassium in your blood causes a condition called hyperkalemia. In many cases the reason for high levels of potassium are because of abnormal kidney function. When they are functioning normally, they remove excess potassium from your body.
Should you fast before potassium test?
You don’t need any special preparations for a potassium blood test or an electrolyte panel. If your health care provider has ordered more tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your health care provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
What drugs lower potassium?
If your potassium level is very high (over 6.0), your physician may recommend a medicine, such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate (brand names Kayexalate and Kionex), which helps remove potassium from the body. Diuretics can also help lower potassium levels.