Potassium helps the cells function in your body. A low potassium level in your blood, a condition called hypokalemia, often causes symptoms such as tiredness, muscle cramps and changes to heart rhythm, explains MayoClinic.com. You may lose potassium through your urine, but you may also experience low potassium levels as a result of one or more medications you take routinely. Other causes may result from other conditions, such as periods of vomiting and diarrhea. In order to determine if you have low potassium levels, you must have a blood test.
Step 1
Discuss your concerns with your health care provider. If you experience symptoms or have a history of low potassium levels, your doctor will need to know this information. She will order a blood test and may recommend additional tests as part of an annual checkup. Your doctor will schedule an appointment for you or may inform you of a certain day to have the test.
Step 2
Ask your health care provider for special instructions. Some medications may interfere with the potassium readings in your blood, so your doctor may tell you not to take a medication a day or two before the test. This may include diuretics, laxatives and antibiotics, states MedlinePlus. If your doctor orders additional tests with the potassium level, you may need to fast the night before the test. This means that the night before the test, you should not eat or drink. Your health provider may allow you to sip water in the morning in order to take any medications.
Step 3
Arrive for the blood test. The lab technician will use a small needle to draw blood from your arm. He will typically take the blood from the inside area of your elbow or from the top of your hand. You'll have a small bandage afterward for any bleeding. Once the bleeding stops, you may remove the bandage.
Step 4
Talk with your health care provider about the results. This may take a few days or a week, but your doctor will either have you return to her office or she will call you on the phone. If you have a normal potassium level, your doctor will recommend a follow-up appointment that's appropriate for your health. If your test shows abnormal potassium levels, your doctor may recommend you take supplements or test for an underlying condition causing your low potassium levels.
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