Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Hyperkalemia.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- Symptoms of elevated potassium?
Why: may be without symptoms. Muscle weakness may be the only symptom.
- Complications of elevated potassium?
Why: e.g. low blood pressure, reduced pulse rate, abnormal rhythms of the heart, cardiac arrest, sudden death.
- Recent vigorous exercise?
Why: may cause elevated potassium.
- Recent severe burns?
Why: may cause elevated potassium.
- Recent severe trauma, especially muscular crush injuries?
Why: may cause elevated potassium.
- Medications?
Why: e.g. some medications may increase potassium including amiloride, spironolactone, potassium supplements, ACE inhibitors, heparin. Note:- the combination of ACE inhibitor and potassium sparing diuretic ( e.g. amiloride or spironolactone) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication is particularly dangerous.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Symptoms of Addison's disease?
Why: symptoms are often vague but may include e.g. weight loss, loss of appetite, tiredness, weakness, fever, depression, lack of menstrual periods, impotence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, fainting, abdominal pain, constipation, muscle aches.
- Symptoms of acute renal failure?
Why: The early stages of renal failure are often completely without symptoms. Later symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, insomnia, frequency of urination, itch, nausea, vomiting, restless legs.
- Symptoms of diabetic acidosis?
Why: include symptoms of uncontrolled type 1 Diabetes mellitus (frequency of urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, tiredness, fatigue) and symptoms of acidosis (lack of strength, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting and sometimes abdominal pain).
» Next page: Types of Hyperkalemia
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