The Importance of Checking Potassium Levels

Benefits

• Checking your potassium levels allows your doctor to recommend an appropriate treatment plan if your test reveals abnormalities. Treating abnormal potassium levels, whether too high or too low, in a timely manner, might help you avert a critical medical situation.
  
  

Significance

• High levels of potassium, or hyperkalemia, can be related to kidney disease, diabetes, infection and tissue injury. Low levels of potassium, or hypokalemia can be caused by a low potassium diet, dehydration, excessive sweating or acetaminophen overdose. In addition, prescription medications such as beta blockers, which are medications that treat an abnormal heart rate and high blood pressure, can also promote high potassium levels.
  
  

Warning

• Low levels of potassium can cause serious cardiac conditions, such as an abnormal heartbeat, while elevated potassium levels can cause a decrease in cardiac muscle activity. Potassium levels need to be treated promptly to avoid a serious cardiac event, which can include a heart attack.