What’s a magnesium blood check?
A magnesium blood check measures the quantity of magnesium in your blood. Magnesium is a sort of electrolyte. Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals which might be chargeable for many essential capabilities and processes in your physique.
Your physique wants magnesium to assist your muscular tissues, nerves, and coronary heart work correctly. Magnesium additionally helps management blood stress and blood sugar.
Most of your physique’s magnesium is in your bones and cells. However a small quantity is present in your blood. Magnesium ranges within the blood which might be too low or too excessive is usually a signal of a critical well being downside.
Different names: Mg, Magazine, Magnesium-Serum
What’s it used for?
A magnesium blood check is used to test to see you probably have too little or an excessive amount of magnesium within the blood. Having too little magnesium, referred to as hypomagnesemia or magnesium deficiency, is extra widespread than having an excessive amount of magnesium, which is named hypermagnesemia.
A magnesium blood check can be generally included with checks of different electrolytes, similar to sodium, calcium, potassium, and chloride.
Why do I would like a magnesium blood check?
Your well being care supplier could order a magnesium blood check you probably have signs of low magnesium or excessive magnesium ranges.
Signs of low magnesium embrace:
Signs of excessive magnesium embrace:
You might also want this check in case you are pregnant. A magnesium deficiency is usually a signal of preeclampsia, a critical type of hypertension that impacts pregnant girls.
As well as, your supplier could order this check you probably have a well being downside that may trigger a magnesium deficiency. These embrace malnutrition, alcoholism, and diabetes.
What occurs throughout a magnesium blood check?
A well being care skilled will take a blood pattern from a vein in your arm, utilizing a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small quantity of blood will likely be collected right into a check tube or vial. You could really feel slightly sting when the needle goes in or out. This often takes lower than 5 minutes.
Will I have to do something to arrange for the check? – “magnesium blood test”
Sure medicines can have an effect on magnesium ranges. Inform your well being care supplier about any prescription and over-the-counter medicines you’re taking. Your supplier will let you already know if you’ll want to cease taking them for a couple of days earlier than your check. You may additionally have to cease taking magnesium dietary supplements earlier than your check.
Are there any dangers to the check?
There may be little or no threat to having a blood check. You could have slight ache or bruising on the spot the place the needle was put in, however most signs go away rapidly.
What do the outcomes imply?
In case your outcomes present you have got a magnesium deficiency, it might be an indication of:
In case your outcomes present you have got a better than regular quantity of magnesium, it might be an indication of:
In case your outcomes present you have got a magnesium deficiency, your well being care supplier will in all probability suggest you are taking magnesium dietary supplements to lift ranges of the mineral. In case your outcomes present you have got an excessive amount of magnesium, your supplier could suggest IV therapies (medication given on to your veins) that may take away extra magnesium.
In case you have questions on your outcomes, discuss to your well being care supplier.
Be taught extra about laboratory checks, reference ranges, and understanding outcomes.