Making sense of medical laboratory reports can be difficult. Potassium is often listed on such reports under the chemical symbol "K," which is short for the Latin name, "kallium." Levels of potassium are often reported using the unit milliequivalents per liter, or mEq/L. A milliequivalent is 1/1000 of the amount needed to react with one mole of electrons in a redox reaction.
Normal Potassium Levels
Potassium is a positively charged electrolyte found in every cell in the body and in the serum, or fluid between the cells. The difference between the concentration of potassium in the cells and the concentration of potassium in the serum makes it possible for nerves to fire. Doctors routinely measure serum potassium levels because this mineral is critical to healthy functioning of the nervous system. The National Kidney Foundation, or NKF, maintains that a healthy levels of serum potassium are between 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Other authorities such as the Mayo Clinic propose slightly different normal ranges, but the difference is not significant.
Normal Potassium Regulation
Medline Plus explains that potassium from the cells can be released into the serum in response to tissue trauma, such as caused by burns, surgery or other events that damage tissues. The increased level of potassium in the serum is immediately removed by the kidneys. This quick response prevents hyperkalemia -- or high potassium levels -- from causing further damage.
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia is found in patients with advanced kidney disease. This state is dangerous because it produces no symptoms. Nerves start to misfire, which causes irregular heartbeats. Many patients end up in the emergency room where their cardiac symptoms are treated and their potassium levels are lowered by moving potassium from the serum back into the cells and by removing potassium from the gastrointestinal system.
Hypokalemia
Abnormally low potassium levels produce a state called hypokalemia. Hypokalemia caused by poor diet is almost nonexistent because potassium is found in almost every food and in tap water. Hypokalemia is most commonly observed in anorexics and in starving people. Doctors also see hypokalemia in people who have lost fluids, such as those taking diuretics or who have prolonged vomiting.
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