Your body relies on the mineral potassium to effectively perform many functions. Keeping potassium in balance is essential for your health, since too little or too much of the nutrient has adverse effects. You physician will perform a clinical potassium test to measure your levels and determine if any treatment is necessary to ensure proper potassium balance.
Functions and Sources
Cells need potassium to regulate metabolism, digestion and nerve function. As an electrolyte, it helps transport electricity throughout the body, which is crucial for muscle and heart contraction, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. All meats are good sources of potassium, as well as some fish, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Milk and milk products also contain potassium.
Normal Levels
Potassium levels are typically measured through a clinical electrolyte test that also evaluates the amount of magnesium and sodium. The amount of potassium in your blood depends largely on the concentrations of sodium and magnesium also present, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. MedlinePlus reports that the normal range for potassium is 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L of blood.
Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia, the medical term for low potassium, has several causes. These include certain antibiotics, diuretics that flush potassium from the body, diarrhea, vomiting and sweating. If you have hypokalemia, you may experience abnormal heart rhythms, fatigue, constipation or muscle weakness or spasms. Chronic hypokalemia, left untreated, can eventually lead to kidney damage and life-threatening paralysis, according to PubMed Health. Depending on the severity of your hypokalemia, your physician may prescribe oral potassium supplements or injections, or may adjust medications connected to the condition.
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia refers to the condition of potassium above the clinical range. PubMed Health reports that most instances of hyperkalemia are caused by disorders that affect the kidneys' ability to remove excess potassium from the blood. Common kidney disorders include chronic or acute kidney failure, glomerulonephritis and obstructive uropathy. Conditions such as Addison's disease that reduce the production of aldosterone, a hormone that regulates the kidneys' removal of potassium, can also contribute to hyperkalemia. Unlike hypokalemia, hyperkalemia often presents without symptoms. You may experience an irregular heartbeat with a slow or weak pulse and nausea. Untreated hyperkalemia can lead to cardiac arrest. Emergency treatment to reduce potassium levels includes using medications that bind and remove potassium from the body, dialysis, diuretics and intravenous calcium to treat muscle and heart side effects.
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