Question 1

What is hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

Hyperkalemia is a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood, typically exceeding 5.5 mEq/L. It is caused by impaired kidney function, certain medications like ACE inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics, or metabolic acidosis. The Potassium Serum test is the most important test for diagnosis, directly measuring potassium levels to confirm the condition and determine its severity.

Question 2

What causes hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

Hyperkalemia is caused by impaired kidney function, which prevents the body from properly eliminating excess potassium through urine. Other common causes include medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, and NSAIDs that interfere with potassium excretion. Additionally, metabolic acidosis, adrenal insufficiency (low aldosterone), severe dehydration, tissue damage from burns or trauma, and excessive dietary potassium intake can all lead to elevated potassium levels in the blood.

Question 3

What is the best test for hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

The Potassium Serum test is the most important test for hyperkalemia because it directly measures the concentration of potassium in your blood serum, confirming the diagnosis and determining severity. Normal potassium levels range from 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L, and levels above 5.5 mEq/L indicate hyperkalemia. The Comprehensive Metabolic Profile is also essential because it measures potassium alongside kidney function markers like creatinine and eGFR, helping identify if kidney disease is causing your high potassium. For patients on certain medications like tacrolimus, the Tacrolimus test is critical to determine if medication toxicity is contributing to elevated potassium levels.

Question 4

When should I get tested for hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

You should get tested if you have chronic kidney disease, take medications that affect potassium levels like ACE inhibitors or spironolactone, or experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, or numbness and tingling. Testing is also important if you have diabetes, adrenal gland disorders, severe dehydration, or have recently had major tissue damage from burns or trauma. Since hyperkalemia can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems without obvious symptoms, regular monitoring is essential for anyone with kidney disease or taking medications that increase potassium levels.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

Hyperkalemia often causes no symptoms in mild cases, which makes blood testing crucial for early detection. When symptoms do occur, you might notice muscle weakness or fatigue, particularly in your legs and arms. Heart-related symptoms include palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or a slow pulse. Other signs include nausea, numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, and difficulty breathing. Severe hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities that require immediate medical attention, so anyone with risk factors should be monitored regularly through blood tests.

Question 6

Who is at risk for hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

People with chronic kidney disease are at highest risk because damaged kidneys cannot effectively remove excess potassium from the blood. Those taking certain medications including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics, NSAIDs, or immunosuppressants like tacrolimus face increased risk. Individuals with diabetes, especially those with diabetic nephropathy, adrenal insufficiency, or Addison disease are also vulnerable. Additional risk factors include advanced age, dehydration, severe burns or crush injuries, high potassium intake from supplements or salt substitutes, and metabolic acidosis from conditions like uncontrolled diabetes.

Question 7

What happens if hyperkalemia is left untreated?

Accepted Answer

Untreated hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac complications, including dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities like ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest. As potassium levels rise, electrical signals in your heart become disrupted, potentially causing your heart to stop beating effectively. Severe hyperkalemia can also lead to complete heart block, where electrical signals cannot pass through the heart properly. Muscle paralysis can occur in extreme cases, affecting breathing muscles and causing respiratory failure. Because these complications can develop rapidly and without warning, especially when potassium levels exceed 6.5 mEq/L, prompt diagnosis and treatment through blood testing is essential to prevent potentially fatal outcomes.

Question 8

Can hyperkalemia be diagnosed with a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Yes, hyperkalemia is diagnosed primarily through blood tests that measure potassium levels in your serum. The Potassium Serum test directly measures the concentration of potassium in your blood and is the gold standard for diagnosis. Additional blood tests like the Comprehensive Metabolic Profile and Kidney Function Profile help identify the underlying cause by assessing kidney function, while the Electrolyte Panel evaluates overall mineral balance. An electrocardiogram (EKG) may be used alongside blood tests to check for heart rhythm changes caused by high potassium, but blood work remains the definitive method for confirming hyperkalemia and monitoring treatment effectiveness.

Question 9

How is hyperkalemia treated?

Accepted Answer

Treatment for hyperkalemia depends on the severity and underlying cause. Immediate treatment for severe cases includes intravenous calcium gluconate to protect the heart, insulin with glucose to shift potassium into cells, and sodium bicarbonate for metabolic acidosis. Medications like albuterol inhalers and potassium-binding resins such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate help lower potassium levels. Long-term management involves adjusting or discontinuing medications that raise potassium, treating underlying kidney disease, following a low-potassium diet, and using diuretics to increase potassium excretion. In cases of severe kidney failure, dialysis may be necessary to remove excess potassium from the blood effectively.

Question 10

How can I prevent hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

Preventing hyperkalemia involves following a low-potassium diet by limiting high-potassium foods like bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, and salt substitutes. Work closely with your healthcare provider to monitor medications that affect potassium levels, and never start or stop these medications without medical guidance. Regular blood tests are essential if you have kidney disease or take medications that increase potassium, allowing early detection before levels become dangerous. Stay well-hydrated to support kidney function, avoid excessive use of NSAIDs, and manage underlying conditions like diabetes and kidney disease effectively. If you have chronic kidney disease, working with a dietitian can help you create a meal plan that keeps potassium levels in a safe range.

Question 11

What can I do at home for hyperkalemia?

Accepted Answer

At home, focus on dietary changes by avoiding high-potassium foods including bananas, avocados, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, beans, nuts, and salt substitutes that contain potassium chloride. Read food labels carefully and choose lower-potassium alternatives like apples, berries, grapes, and white rice. Take all prescribed medications exactly as directed, and never adjust doses of ACE inhibitors or diuretics on your own. Stay hydrated with water to support kidney function, but avoid sports drinks and coconut water which are high in potassium. Keep regular appointments for blood tests to monitor your potassium levels, and seek immediate medical attention if you experience heart palpitations, severe weakness, or difficulty breathing, as these may indicate dangerously high potassium requiring emergency treatment.

Question 12

How’s this work?

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

How do I know which test to get?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

When will my lab results be available?

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

Do you accept health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Only HSA & FSA is accepted.
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Question 17

Can I cancel my order?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

How can I find a lab location near me?

Accepted Answer

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Hyperkalemia Blood Test

What is Hyperkalemia?

What causes hyperkalemia?

What is the best test for hyperkalemia?

When should I get tested for hyperkalemia?

References

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