High Potassium: what it means
A Potassium result above the normal range is considered high. Here is what a raised Potassium can point to, and when it is worth discussing with a doctor.
Reference range: 3.5–5.0 mmol/L; critically low <3.0 or high >6.0
Understand your full resultWhat a high Potassium can mean
- Kidney failure — the most common cause of significant hyperkalaemia.
- Medications — ACE inhibitors, ARBs, spironolactone, potassium-sparing diuretics, NSAIDs, trimethoprim.
- Cellular release — rhabdomyolysis, tumour lysis syndrome, severe burns, haemolysis.
- Adrenal insufficiency — low aldosterone.
- Spurious / pseudo-hyperkalaemia — sample haemolysis during draw is very common; repeat if isolated.
When to discuss with a doctor
Potassium <3.0 or >6.0 mmol/L warrants urgent evaluation — these levels can trigger life-threatening arrhythmias. ECG is the next step. Mild abnormalities (3.0–3.4 or 5.1–5.9) warrant primary-care review and a repeat draw. Repeat values are essential because in-vitro haemolysis is a frequent false-positive.
Conditions this can relate to
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Upload your test - freeMediora.AI is informational - interpretation, not a diagnosis. A single out-of-range value is common and often benign; always discuss decisions with your doctor.